Ex-envoy demands compensation for victims of South African xenophobia

A former Nigerian Ambassador to Switzerland, Joseph Ayalogu, has called on Nigeria and other African countries to demand compensation from the South African government for victims of xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals, particularly Nigerians, in the country.

Ayalogu made the call during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, where he condemned repeated attacks on foreign-owned businesses and urged stronger enforcement of existing South African laws to protect migrants.

“It’s unfortunate that they are targeting people’s businesses. I have seen some of the posts [on social media where people are] deliberately going to people’s businesses and taking over their businesses.

“It’s unfortunate, and the government has to even begin to think of compensating even the people who have lost their livelihood and investments there,” he said.

He argued that African countries, including Nigeria, should take a firmer diplomatic position and press Pretoria to enforce laws already in place to curb such violence.

“These are the things that countries, African countries, Nigeria included, should forcibly demand from the South African Government.

“We need affirmative action from the government of South Africa to really call this to order, rein in their people, and use the law. They have the law that prevents such attacks, so it’s a matter of implementing it,” Ayalogu said.

He added that he was dissatisfied with the South African government’s response to the recurring violence, including public statements from its leadership.

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“I am not satisfied with what the government has done. Even the rhetoric of the president of South Africa,” he said.

“They should be firm to say, ‘This is not right or acceptable; it’s a criminal offence to do this,’ and put out the police or whatever they have in the street to call as many people who get involved in all that to order.”

Ayalogu also described the attacks as largely targeted at Africans, noting that other foreign nationals appear less affected.

“You wouldn’t say it’s xenophobic because it’s largely Afrophobic. They are not bothered, picking out Americans, Dutch, or Europeans in their midst who are actually evidently living much better than most of them. So, their bad feeling seems to be targeted at Africans,” he noted.

His comments come amid renewed concerns over recurring waves of violence against African migrants in South Africa, where businesses owned by Nigerians and other nationals have reportedly been looted, attacked, or taken over in some communities.

The Federal Government has begun evacuating willing Nigerians from South Africa in response to a wave of anti-migrant violence, while maintaining diplomatic engagement and exploring broader continental intervention mechanisms.

The evacuation exercise, coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is targeting about 1,000 Nigerians who registered for repatriation, with authorities setting a June 30, 2026, deadline for completion. So far, an initial batch of 258 Nigerians has been airlifted and arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on June 11, 2026, with further flights expected as the exercise continues.