Senate condemns Xenophobic attacks in South Africa

The Senate today at plenary condemns in strong term the return of the xenophobic attacks and extra judicial killings of Nigerians by the South African police and South Africans.

In a motion sponsored by Senator Rose Oko and co-sponsored by Senators Tejuoso Olarenwaju, Ibrahim Kurfi and Obinna Ogba on the resurgence of xenophobic attacks and extra judicial killings of Nigerians in South Africa, the Senators observes that these incidents violate Article 5 of the United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights, Article 4 and 7 of the African Charter on Human and People Rights and sections 11 and 35 of the 1996 Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.

The Senators are also alarmed that 20 Nigerians in South Africa were killed in extra judicial manner over allegations of drug trafficking without recourse to legal process and fair hearing as prescribed by the International laws and the South African laws and that in the last two years, about 116 Nigerians have been killed in these attacks.

The Senators are also aware that the Federal Government has consistently engaged the South African government on ensuring an end to the killings and xenophobic attacks but are worried that the trend has continued to be on the increase in spite of theses efforts.

The Senators notes that South Africa has over 120 companies that are thriving in Nigeria and that the MOU signed in 2013 between Nigeria and South Africa was aimed at finding lasting solutions to the xenophobic attacks and reinforce the two countries diplomatic cooperation in legal field, oil and gas, power and gas sector.

They are worried that the extra judicial killings and xenophobic attacks are not only against the principle and intent of the MOU and all known statues but is also capable of weakening the good diplomatic ties between the two nations if urgent steps are not taken to address the ugly trend..

The Senate accordingly resolves to invite the Minister of Foreign Affairs to provide insight into government’s plans towards engaging the South African Government to effectively end the xenophobic attacks.

The Senators also resolved to urge the Federal Government to reconsider the Country’s diplomatic ties with South Africa if the ugly incidents are not urgently halted by the South African government.

Charles Akpan
Head, Press and Public Relations.