Johannesburg: South Africa and Nigeria have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation on migration, governance, and regional security, following high-level diplomatic engagements aimed at easing tensions and deepening relations between the two countries. The engagements come as migration and immigration continue to dominate discussions across the continent, with African leaders placing greater emphasis on finding coordinated responses to cross-border movement, public safety, and governance challenges.
According to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), the talks were "candid, constructive, and forward-looking," focusing on restoring mutual goodwill and strengthening bilateral relations. A key focus of the engagements was managing migration-related challenges while preserving the strong historical ties between the two countries.
During the discussions, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, outlined three issues that have contributed to recent tensions between South Africa and Nigeria. The first issue related to the purported installation of an unrecognised traditional ruler, styled as an "Igbo King," in the Eastern Cape, which generated widespread concern in South Africa. The second concern centred on the involvement of some foreign nationals, including Nigerian citizens, in organised crime, illicit drug trafficking, and financial fraud. More than 500 Nigerian nationals had been processed through South Africa's criminal justice system for various offences. The third concern related to incidents where law enforcement officers encountered violent resistance while conducting criminal investigations.
The two delegations also reviewed the arrest and processing of more than 500 Nigerian nationals in South Africa. The Nigerian delegation acknowledged the importance of holding offenders accountable, while stressing that all detainees should receive constitutional due process, fair trial protections, and humane treatment.
A significant outcome of the talks was a shared commitment to reducing inflammatory rhetoric and preventing hostility towards foreign nationals. Lamola reiterated that South Africa remains firmly opposed to xenophobia, racism, and all forms of discrimination. He stressed that while the government would continue to act decisively against crime, criminality could never be used to justify violence or intimidation against foreign nationals.
The engagements come amid growing continental discussions on migration, which has emerged as one of the key issues occupying African leaders and policymakers. Migration, border management, and public safety have featured prominently in recent African Union and Pan-African Parliament discussions, with leaders calling for balanced approaches that strengthen security while protecting human rights and preserving regional integration.
The two governments reaffirmed that bilateral diplomacy and Pan-African solidarity remain the essential frameworks to ensure peaceful coexistence, safeguard human rights, and deepen historical ties between South Africa and Nigeria.
