This archive report was first published on 9 September 2019.
On September 9, 2019, Nigeria announced plans to repatriate around 600 citizens from South Africa in the wake of xenophobic violence.
According to Godwin Adamu, Nigerian Consul General in Johannesburg, the first flight will carry 320 Nigerians, with another flight departing immediately after.
The violence, which targeted Nigerian-owned businesses and properties, resulted in at least 10 deaths and the destruction of hundreds of shops, with over 420 people arrested.
More than 100,000 Nigerians are estimated to live in South Africa, where foreign workers often face anti-immigrant sentiment in a nation with high unemployment rates.
The violence prompted reprisal attacks against South African firms in Nigeria and the temporary closure of South Africa's diplomatic missions in Lagos and Abuja.
Nigeria summoned the South African ambassador to condemn the violence and sent an envoy to meet President Cyril Ramaphosa, who returned to Nigeria over the weekend.
After a week of escalating rhetoric, Nigeria pledged to work with South Africa to resolve the situation.
