Lawmakers Boycott South African-Hosted Legislative Activities Over Xenophobic Attacks on Nigerians
The National Assembly has suspended all official visits to South Africa and directed lawmakers, committees, officials and staff to boycott legislative activities hosted or organised by South African authorities until further notice.
The directive was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the House of Representatives spokesman, Akin Rotimi, following concerns over continued xenophobic attacks, violence and intimidation targeting Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa.
The National Assembly expressed concern over reports of Nigerians being killed, injured, displaced and forced to abandon their businesses, homes and properties.
It said the decision followed repeated appeals by the Nigerian government and other stakeholders for South African authorities to protect Nigerians and other foreign nationals and prosecute perpetrators of xenophobic violence.
The directive, issued following consultations between the Senate and House leadership, covers lawmakers, committees, departments, directorates, officials and staff of the National Assembly.
It also applies to conferences, seminars, workshops, meetings, parliamentary exchanges and other legislative engagements organised, hosted, sponsored or co-sponsored by South African legislative authorities.
The suspension covers both physical and virtual engagements, while existing invitations and proposed programmes involving South Africa will be reviewed.
The National Assembly said no delegation, lawmaker, committee, official or staff member may participate in such engagements without the prior approval of its leadership.
It stressed that the action does not amount to a rejection of Nigeria’s longstanding diplomatic and people-to-people ties with South Africa, saying parliamentary cooperation must be based on mutual respect and the protection of life, property and lawful enterprise.