Nigerian and South African lawmakers clashed during a session at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region Conference in Lilongwe, Malawi, over how violence targeting foreign nationals should be officially defined and addressed.
The diplomatic dispute erupted during discussions at the conference, which brings together more than 300 legislators and officials from across Africa to deliberate on issues including democracy, human rights and regional cooperation.
During the debate, Nigerian representatives called for recent attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa to be explicitly described as “xenophobia,” warning that avoiding the term could downplay or obscure targeted discrimination against foreigners.
South African representatives, however, strongly rejected the characterization. They argued that discussions on the issue should place greater emphasis on unlawful migration and the enforcement of South Africa’s immigration laws.
The disagreement highlights the continuing sensitivity surrounding attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa and the differing perspectives within the region on how such incidents should be described and addressed.
