Riyaz Patel
South Africa has temporarily shut its embassy in Nigeria after threats led to fears for staff safety, Foreign Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor has announced.
The move comes after attacks on foreign-owned businesses in South Africa triggered reprisals in Nigeria causing a diplomatic spat between the continent’s superpowers.
Both countries stepped up security Wednesday after attacks on foreign-owned stores in Johannesburg and reciprocal attacks against South African businesses in Nigerian cities.
Pandor said South Africa was in constant contact with Nigerian authorities to try to restore calm, adding there was no provision in local law for compensation for damage caused in the attacks.
“There is an Afrophobia we are sensing that exists, there is resentment and we need to address that,” Pandor told Reuters on the sidelines of World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town.
Parliament has meanwhile confirmed a snap debate on the wave of violence targeting mainly African immigrants that has seen people attacking and looting shops in Johannesburg and Pretoria.
The debate is likely to take place on Tuesday next week, National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise confirmed Thursday.
Foreign ministry spokesman Lunga Ngqengelele said, “After receiving reports and threats from some of the Nigerians we decided to temporarily close while we are assessing the situation.”
He said the decision to suspend operations at the two missions was made after “a group of people… came and tried force themselves in” at the Lagos consulate.
“It was on those basis that we felt we need to protect the employees and shut it down,” he added.
MTN and Shoprite have also closed their stores in Nigeria.
Tensions have escalated between the continent’s superpowers, with Nigeria declaring it would boycott the WEF on Africa, which was to be attended by its vice president, Yemi Osinbajo.
On Tuesday, Nigeria summoned the South African ambassador for talks and said President Muhammadu Buhari was sending an envoy to convey his displeasure to President Cyril Ramaphosa.
