Nearly 2,000 Nigerians flee South Africa as anti-migrant violence grips country

Lagos – Nearly 2,000 Nigerians have been evacuated from South Africa since June following a wave of anti-migrant protests and violence, Nigeria’s foreign ministry said.

South Africa has been shaken by months of protests and sometimes deadly violence with populist groups targeting foreigners and demanding undocumented migrants go home.

Nigeria has been outspoken in its criticism of the South African government’s handling of the protests, and has organised the repatriation of citizens who want to leave.

From June 10 to October 2, 14 flights were chartered from South Africa to take a total of 1,926 Nigerians home, the foreign ministry said in a statement issued overnight from Monday to Tuesday.

The Nigerian national assembly last month banned all official visits by lawmakers to South Africa because of the violence.

As the richest country on the continent, South Africa has long attracted migrants seeking work, but an unemployment rate of over 30 percent and deep inequalities have stoked tensions.

More than 200,000 people have fled South Africa, according to an AFP tally based on figures released by African governments that have repatriated their nationals.