President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa has confessed that attacks on fellow Africans, especially Nigerians in his country by the citizens has been very embarrassing to him.
President Ramaphosa stressed that the violence attacks on citizens of other African countries residing in his country by his people are disconcerting and embarrassing.
The South African leader, who spoke to President Muhammadu Buhari’s special envoy, led by the Director-General of the Nigeria’s National Intelligence Agency (DGNIA), Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, said that his government completely rejects such acts which undermine not only the country’s image but its relations with brotherly African countries.
President Ramaphosa reaffirmed his stand against criminality and committed to do everything possible to protect the rights of every Nigerian and other foreign nationals in the country.
This was even as President Buhari stressed the need for South African Government to take visible measures to stop violence against citizens of brotherly African nations, expressing worry that the recurring issue of xenophobia against fellow Africans could negatively affect the image and standing of South Africa as one of the leading countries on the continent, if nothing is done to stop it.
President Buhariassured that the Nigerian Government will guarantee the safety of lives, property and business interests of South Africans in Nigeria.
The Nigerian Special Envoy was in South Africa to convey a Special Message from President Buhari to President Ramaphosa. The Special Envoy was in Pretoria from September 5 to 7.
The Special Envoy conveyed the assurance of President Buhari that the Nigerian Government is ready and willing to collaborate with the South African Government to find a lasting solution to the involvement of few Nigerians in criminal activities, and to protect the lives and property of the larger groups of other law abiding Nigerians and indeed Africans in general, against all forms of attacks including xenophobia.
The Special Envoy also interfaced with his South African counterpart, where they reviewed the situation of foreign emigrants in general and Nigerians in particular. They agreed to work together to find a permanent solution to the root causes of the recurring attacks on Nigerians and their property.
