Nigeria has formally summoned South Africa's acting High Commissioner, Thamsanqa Mseleku, to convey its "profound concern" over a wave of anti-immigrant violence and demonstrations that have left Nigerian and other African nationals dead, injured, and fearful across South Africa. Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu called the meeting for Monday, 4 May, with the foreign ministry stating that the attacks and ongoing demonstrations have "the potential to impact the established cordial relations" between the two countries.

At the heart of Nigeria's complaint is a series of marches organised by the "March and March" movement, which has held rallies in Johannesburg, Durban, and Tshwane since mid-April, demanding the deportation of undocumented foreigners and stricter enforcement of immigration and visa rules. The protests have at times turned violent: videos circulating on social media showed demonstrators chasing and beating Black migrants. Two Nigerian nationals were killed in April — one, identified as Ekpenyong Andrew, was found dead in Pretoria after being detained, and another, Amaramiro Emmanuel, died of injuries sustained in an attack involving South African National Defence Force personnel in Port Elizabeth. At least four Ethiopians have also been killed, according to local media, and the UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed "deep concern" over attacks targeting foreign nationals in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces.

Nigeria is not alone in its response. Ghana summoned South Africa's envoy last month over reported harassment and intimidation of its citizens, reflecting broader continental alarm. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned the violence and, in a Freedom Day address last week — marking 31 years since the country's first democratic elections — reminded South Africans of the solidarity other African nations had shown during the struggle against apartheid. However, Ramaphosa's position is complicated: he has also previously described undocumented immigration as a threat to economic stability and pledged to deploy thousands of additional labour inspectors.

South Africa, the continent's most industrialised economy, is home to an estimated 2.4 million registered migrants — roughly 4% of the population — with many more believed to be undocumented. Most come from neighbouring Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. High unemployment, officially above 32%, and widespread poverty fuel resentment among some South Africans who accuse foreigners of taking jobs and links to crime, allegations that immigrant communities strongly contest. The March and March movement's rhetoric, critics note, blurs the distinction between legal and undocumented migrants — a South African court issued a ruling in 2025 specifically barring protesters from blocking migrants' access to public health facilities.

The crisis carries significant political weight. Several opposition parties have aligned themselves with the anti-immigrant marches ahead of upcoming local elections, turning what began as a social grievance into an electoral battleground. For Pretoria, the challenge is to balance a domestic audience angry about unemployment against its constitutional obligations and its standing as a regional power expected to uphold African solidarity — the very ideal Nelson Mandela once called the "rainbow nation".