₦airaland Forum

Nigeria said it has completed the evacuation of its citizens from South Africa this week, airlifting nearly 1,500 people as anti-illegal immigration groups piled pressure on undocumented foreigners to leave the country.

Foreign nationals from several African countries, including Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda and Zimbabwe, have been leaving South Africa for weeks under government-assisted repatriation programmes.

South Africa, long a destination for documented and undocumented African workers, has been rocked by weeks of protests and unrest targeting immigrants, who stand accused of taking jobs and resources.

"It has ended," Nigeria's foreign ministry spokesman Kimiebi Ebienfa told AFP on Friday after airlifting of 1,490 Nigerians between June 10 and July 15.

The departures began after fringe South African groups ramped up demands for undocumented migrants to leave by June 30, sparking violent protests and clashes that killed at least four foreign nationals.

Malawi said earlier in July it had brought back 38,000 nationals in just a month, while Zimbabwe reported repatriating nearly 21,300 citizens.

Uganda's government said around 1,100 of its nationals had been repatriated, while hundreds of Ghanaians, Mozambicans and Kenyans have also left.

Nigeria's foreign minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu said earlier this month that the situation for foreigners in South Africa was deteriorating and urged authorities to investigate the June 28 killings of two Nigerians, Musa Yunana Joe and Charles Iroegbu, during "the ongoing xenophobic protests and attacks of migrants".

But South African police said the deaths were not connected to the protests.

Still, South African authorities have been accused of not doing enough to stop the violence, which has seen shops owned by immigrants burned and looted.

"While appreciating the longstanding bilateral relations between Nigeria and the Republic of South Africa, the Federal Government reiterates its firm position that all forms of xenophobia, racial intolerance and violence against foreign nationals are unacceptable," Ebienfa said in a statement on Thursday.

Despite a handful of Nigerian lawmakers calling for a hardline response, Ebienfa said Abuja will continue to "engage constructively with the South African Government through diplomatic channels".

helinues:
Very good.

We are wishing the South Africans all the best in taking charge of their country as there won't be any excuse of foreigners taking their jobs

RandDigital:
Only 1500 out of a possible 500,000🫤

Many jobs still at risk, not to mention the crime rate. 💅🏾💅🏾💅🏾

helinues:
So over 500,000 of Nigerians are in South Africa? Or other African nationalities haven't evacuated their people from your country

RandDigital:
Fraud and drug dealing is so high it actually feels like 5 million 🤧

helinues:
Can you see what we have been saying about you South Africans that your arguments don't have any direction

Could please tell us what precisely did the match to match protest achieved if there are still over 400k African migrants in your country?

RandDigital:
Correction - 500K Nigerians alone. 5 million undocumented migrants 💅🏾💅🏾💅🏾

No country can tolerate that, not even the US with all its wealth.

Documents foreign nationals, students and tourists are obviously very welcome in SA🇿🇦🏆 - I see Nwabali is returning despite the genocidal propaganda in West Africa.

Could you please tell us what precisely did the match to match protest achieved if there are still over 400k African migrants in your country?

helinues:
Be coherent when having any conversation with me. You saw that emboldened above before.

Now respond to it accordingly

RandDigital:
Happy?

https://www.nairaland.com/8711305/100k-zimbabweans-17-liberians-leave

Fraud and drug dealing is so high it actually feels like 5 million

Only 1500 out of a possible 500,000🫤

Many jobs still at risk, not to mention the crime rate. 💅🏾💅🏾💅🏾

helinues:
Were you drunk when you made the above comments?

How many Nigerians are in UK which should be the country Nigerians are most that you are claiming 500k Nigerians are in South Africa

Honestly, only if you people have been paying attention to the way always sound, may be you people could have a rethink about your behavior.

East Africans who are not even affected like West Africans take this matter personally most the Ethiopians. Are they also part of West Africa?

RandDigital:
Even when drunk I still make more sense than you and average Nigerians...

Ethiopia should first explain why they're war with themselves and affecting other countries with their refugees.

It's not a human right to be in SA.

helinues:
So number counting is also part of the problem you people have in SA? What's the population of the Ethiopians that almost 200k are residing in your country. How many Ethiopians are in Kenya which is one of their neighbors?

RandDigital:
I don't care how many Ethiopian refugees are in Kenya - read the UN refugee act, if fleeing conflict you should run to neighbouring countries, not South Africa.

helinues:
You are not even interested in making senses with your arguments. Are the Ethiopians sharing border with South Africa? How many Ethiopians can afford travelling abroad?

If they can't go to their nearest neighbors like Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, why South Africa?

Let's even put that aside. I just read about a Congolese boxer that was burnt alive by your zulu people, was he also into drug?

The honest truth is, you South Africans should start the crying now because you don't have a clue about what's it's about to hit you. Not even your southern neighbors are with you with your boring attitude

RandDigital:
Can you read, up to 200K Ethiopians are in SA.

I've officially laid a complaint against that Congolese boxer. Don't fall for fake news.

helinues:
Which water are you people consuming in your country that made all of you to be always sounding the Same.

We are talking about a Congolese that was lynched, you are talking of officially reported the guy. Is the Congolese boxer the only victim with the South Africa Afrophobic attacks?

The total number of the Ethiopians outside their country is 3 million..How many countries do we have in Africa alone that almost 200k Ethiopians will be in your country? And if your reference is about google figure then that must be outdated because reasonable number of them have returned home after the war as Abbiy it what's their president's name is trying his best

RandDigital:
So, I see you're not disputing that this Congolese boxer story is fake news on Nairaland?

This is how you know a story is fake:

1. No credible news outlet is carrying the story
2. Video of charred body is a close up, no identifying pictures of location
3. Everyone is an official but speaking french, South Africa is English speaking

nlfpmod mynd44

RandDigital:
Can you read, up to 200K Ethiopians are in SA.

I've officially laid a complaint against that Congolese boxer. Don't fall for fake news.

RandDigital:
Only 1500 out of a possible 500,000🫤

Many jobs still at risk, not to mention the crime rate. 💅🏾💅🏾💅🏾

Emeskhalifa:
I just knew you aren't different from your brothers despite being educated and civilised.

It is well, enjoy your country alone.