Africa's Giants Turn on Each Other

By Henry Srebrnik,, [Fredericton, NB] Daily Gleaner

Africa’s two largest economies are at loggerheads, due to an outbreak of violence against Nigerians and other foreigners in South Africa.

The two population giants – with nearly 260 million residents between them – have long competed for regional influence. But tensions have intensified lately on account of deadly riots in Johannesburg, in which Nigerian-owned businesses have been targeted in for violence.

The unrest, driven by xenophobic sentiments toward outsiders, has left at least 12 people dead in South Africa and led to nearly hundreds of arrests as people angered over unemployment and poor living conditions attacked property owned by immigrants.

Much of the problem comes from the open borders policy initiated by the post-apartheid government. Black Africans from all over the continent, particularly Nigeria, moved to South Africa.

They often put South African Blacks out of work by accepting lower wages and some set up small businesses in direct competition with existing ones.

The reaction in Nigeria to the current violence saw people in that country attack South African-owned shops. Nigeria recalled its ambassador to South Africa, while South Africa closed its diplomatic missions in the Nigerian cities of Abuja and Lagos.

“After receiving reports and threats from some of the Nigerians, we decided to temporarily close while we are assessing the situation,” said South African Foreign Ministry spokesman Lunga Ngqengelele.

 “Our government regrets all violence against foreign-owned stores or Africans from other countries who are resident in South Africa,” South Africa’s Foreign Minister, Naledi Pandor, told the South African Broadcasting Corporation.

As animosity between the two countries heightened, Nigerian legislators suggested that the foreign ministry should issue travel alerts to Nigerians planning to visit South Africa. And two of Nigeria’s top musicians, Burna Boy and Tiwa Savage, announced they were refusing to perform in South Africa.

On Sept. 4, Nigeria announced it would boycott the World Economic Forum on Africa that took place in Cape Town. It was to discuss the African Continental Free Trade Area, an agreement made this year that sets the stage for the creation of the largest free-trade area in the world.

 “We cannot have a continental free trade agreement and have a situation where there is black-on-black violence in South Africa,” maintained Oby Ezekwesili, a former Nigerian politician who was attending the Forum.

“The young people who are out there are extremely angry,” she added. “We have a problem of bad politics on the continent.”

As well, an influential Nigerian student body in late August demanded that all South African-owned businesses leave the country.

The National Association of Nigerian Students picketed branches of South African telecoms giant MTN, and those of supermarket chain Shoprite.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sept. 16 condemned the attacks on foreigners and sent envoys to Abuja to placate Nigeria. He must get a handle on the situation, as Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to visit South Africa in October.

The two nations were once very close. Nigeria was so supportive of the anti-apartheid movement that it had imposed a mandatory deduction from civil servants’ salaries that went to help South Africans.

The situation couldn’t be more different today, when the two states verge on diplomatic breakdown -- with its roots in xenophobia.