Tinubu Reportedly Declines to Receive South African President’s Special Envoy Amid X£nophobia Concerns

Tinubu Reportedly Declines to Receive South African President’s Special Envoy Amid Xenophobia Concerns

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly declined to receive a special envoy sent by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The reported decision comes amid growing concerns over recent xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals living in South Africa.

According to Daily Sun, a South African delegation led by the country’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, arrived in Abuja on Friday, July 24, with what was described as a “very important message” for President Tinubu.

The development followed reports of the k!lling of a Nigerian national, Chika Ibe, who was allegedly taken from his residence at the Parksig Villas Complex in Bellville, Cape Town, and reportedly t0rtured to d3ath by personnel of the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Nigeria has consistently maintained a firm stance against xenophobic att@cks in South Africa.

At the 69th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS held recently in Lungi, Sierra Leone, Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Tinubu, condemned the att@cks and pledged that Nigeria would push for stronger measures against xenophobia at the African Union.

The reported refusal to receive the envoy has further drawn attention to the diplomatic tensions surrounding the treatment of Nigerians and other African migrants in South Africa.

AB