No need to further strain relations between South Africa and Nigeria

The Democratic Alliance (DA) would like to urge both the South African and Nigerian Governments not to strain already delicate relations and to engage constructively with each other on the issues leading to the High-Commissioner and General-Consul of Nigeria being called home for discussion.

The media reported at the weekend that the Nigerian High-Commissioner and General-Consul were recalled to Nigeria, purportedly over the recent incidences of xenophobia in South Africa. However, according to the Nigerian Foreign Minister, they have not been recalled but have instead been invited for consultations, after which they would return to their duties in South Africa.

Inviting the High Commissioner and the General-Consul back home is, in diplomatic terms, unusual and only done in extreme circumstances as a last resort. This will have placed further strain on already difficult relations between our two countries.

At the next sitting of the Pan-Africa Parliament I will table a motion to address this issue.

I urge both parties to not engage in tit-for-tat tactics but to rather put the interests of both countries and their citizens first and to engage meaningfully on how they may improve relations between two of the continent's economic power houses.

Minister of International Relations and Cooperation