This archive report was first published on 3 September 2019.
On September 3, 2019, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari sent a special envoy to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in response to reports of xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
President Buhari expressed deep concern over the security of Nigerian citizens and their property in South Africa, stating that he was sending a special envoy to share this concern with President Ramaphosa and to ensure that the South African government was doing everything within its power to address the situation.
According to reports, several shops and businesses were looted and burned down in riots that broke out in a neighborhood in Johannesburg on Sunday.
South African President Ramaphosa had earlier called for the arrest of those involved in the attacks against foreign-owned businesses in the country, stating that there was no justification for the attacks and warning that violence on foreign businesses could trigger xenophobic attacks against South Africans living abroad.
President Buhari is set to make a visit to South Africa in October, where he will meet with President Ramaphosa to discuss the safety of Nigerian citizens in the country.
