By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider

Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who serves as the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, has summoned the High Commissioner of South Africa, Thamsanqa Mseleku, over the recent burst of xenophobic attacks occurring in South Africa as the meeting between the two is set to be held today.

Spokesperson of Nigeria’s foreign ministry, Kimiebi Ebienfa, has noted that the purpose of the meeting is for Nigeria to convey its concerns over the attacks happening in South Africa. Since gruesome videos of the violence occurring in South Africa have been circulating on social media there’s been mounting concerns over how much this may escalate.

In the videos South African citizens are seen holding sticks as they chase around African foreigners and telling them to leave South Africa. Two Nigerians have been killed in April by South African National Defense Force (SANDF) soldiers in Port Elizabeth.

One Ekpenyong Andrew, was arrested and his body was found days later in Pretoria. Amaramiro Emmanuel, had sustained injuries which eventually caused his death from security personnel as both these deaths occurred in the midst of the Xenophobic attacks.

 Due to various Nigerians and their businesses in South Africa being under threat and destroyed, this meeting between Mseleku and Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

 “The objective of this management is to formally convey the Nigerian government’s profound concern regarding the recent events that have the potential to impact the established cordial relations between Nigeria and South Africa” wrote Ebienfa on X.

“Discussions will primarily focus on the ongoing demonstrations by various groups in South Africa.” he wrote further.

Governments such as Ghana, have also summoned South African ambassadors over the anti-immigrants campaign and the attacks on foreigners, last month the Ghanaian government summoned the South African envoy due to “acts of intimidation and harassment” against the citizens of Ghana.

 Reports of South African trucks and citizens could be prevented from entering countries like Mozambique on Monday as protests are expected to take place in Ressano Garcia in order to retaliate against the xenophobic marches and attacks against immigrants in South Africa.

As the country’s unemployment rate sits at 30%, this has been used as one of the justifications for the attack on immigrants. More than two thirds of South Africa’s estimated three million foreign residents consist mainly of black Africans, as they have been the subject of majority of the harm.