Nigeria has summoned South Africa’s acting high commissioner for a formal meeting in Abuja, in a sharp diplomatic response to anti-foreigner violence affecting Nigerian citizens and their businesses. Nigeria’s foreign affairs ministry said the meeting, set for Monday, 4 May 2026, is meant to address developments that could strain relations between the two countries.

The move marks a clear escalation. Nigeria is now the second African country in less than two weeks to summon a South African diplomatic representative over unrest linked to foreign nationals in South Africa. Ghana also called in South Africa’s acting high commissioner after incidents in KwaZulu-Natal involving a Ghanaian national with legal residency.

Unrest is spilling into foreign policy

The diplomatic row comes after weeks of anti-foreigner protests and violence in several South African cities. Nigeria’s government says the meeting will focus on the reported mistreatment of Nigerian citizens and attacks on their businesses, as well as demonstrations by groups operating across South Africa.

The issue has also drawn global attention. On 27 April, UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned xenophobic attacks on migrants in South Africa and called for prompt, thorough investigations. He warned against violence being fuelled by difficult socioeconomic conditions and reminded South Africans of the international solidarity that supported the anti-apartheid struggle.

Economic pressure sits in the background

The unrest is unfolding against a harsh economic backdrop. Statistics South Africa said the official unemployment rate was 31.4% in the fourth quarter of 2025, with about 7.8 million people unemployed. The same official data shows youth unemployment among those aged 15 to 24 remained extremely high.

That pressure has helped fuel anti-migrant mobilisation, with protest groups demanding tighter immigration enforcement and action against businesses employing undocumented foreign nationals. Nigerian officials have already urged calm, but public anger has been rising as reports of violence spread.

Pretoria faces growing scrutiny

President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the issue during his Freedom Day speech, saying legitimate concerns about illegal migration must not be allowed to breed prejudice against fellow Africans. He said the government was clamping down on illegal migration and corruption in the immigration system, but warned that people could not take the law into their own hands.

The meeting in Abuja now carries wider weight than a routine diplomatic protest. South Africa and Nigeria are two of Africa’s biggest economies, with deep trade and political ties. If more countries step in formally, Pretoria may find itself facing not only criticism over street violence but mounting continental pressure over how it protects foreign nationals within its borders.