Xenophobia: South Africa Condemns Nigeria's Decision To Recall Its Ambassador

South Africa has condemned Nigeria's
decision to recall its ambassador over a
spate of attacks against foreigners.
It called the step "unfortunate and
regrettable" and said it "would be curious
for a sisterly country to want to exploit such
a painful episode".
At least seven people have died over a
month of attacks on foreigners and foreign-
owned property in South Africa.
Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini has been
blamed for sparking the attacks with
comments about foreign workers.
Soldiers were deployed to flashpoints last
week to prevent more violence.
Some blamed the attacks - which centred
on Durban and Johannesburg - on
unemployment and poor political
leadership.
Thousands were displaced, with many
Zimbabweans, Mozambicans, Malawians
and others returning home and others
taking refuge in temporary government-
operated shelters.
'Ongoing xenophobia'
Some governments complained that South
Africa was failing to do enough to protect
foreign nationals, though it now insists it
has quelled the violence.
Nigeria has summoned Acting High
Commissioner Martin Cobham along with
Deputy High Commissioner Uche Ajulu-
Okeke. "for consultation" over the "ongoing
xenophobia", Minister of Foreign Affairs
Aminu Wali said in a statement carried by
media on Saturday.
The statement acknowledges that South
African President Jacob Zuma has
condemned the attacks.
In its response, South Africa's Department
of International Relations and Co-operation
points out that "a government resorts to
such an extraordinary diplomatic step to
express outrage at actions or behaviour of
another government.
The statement says South Africa has not
blamed Nigeria "for the deaths and more
than nine (9) months delay in the
repatriation of the bodies of our fallen
compatriots" in attacks by Boko Haram
militants.
The statement insists that the South African
government and citizens have been
"decisive and unequivocal in condemning
and rejecting the attacks on foreign
nationals" and insists that "through our
interventions, relative calm and order has
been restored".
On Friday, President Zuma met over 50
leaders of organisations representing
foreign nationals in South Africa for talks
about how to avert any repeat of the
attacks.
Next week, the South African parliament is
to be suspended to allow deputies to press
the anti-xenophobia message in their home
constituencies.