Nigeria has launched a large-scale evacuation of its citizens from South Africa following a wave of xenophobic attacks that erupted across several South African cities in late April and early May 2026. The violence, which targeted foreign nationals primarily from Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, has reignited tensions between Africa two largest economies and cast a shadow over the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The attacks began in Johannesburg townships before spreading to Pretoria and Durban. Businesses owned by foreigners were vandalized, and at least five people were killed. Nigerian-owned shops, restaurants, and informal trading stalls bore the brunt of the violence, prompting the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria to declare a state of emergency for Nigerian nationals.
The Nigerian government confirmed that special flights arranged by Air Peace and the Nigerian diaspora commission began departing from O.R. Tambo International Airport on May 3rd. By May 5th, more than 2,000 Nigerians had been evacuated, with 6,000 citizens registered for repatriation assistance.
President Bola Tinubu condemned the attacks in a national broadcast, calling them a betrayal of the spirit of African brotherhood and summoning South Africa acting high commissioner to Abuja. Nigeria National Assembly passed a resolution demanding reparations for Nigerian-owned property destroyed during the riots.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa apologized and deployed the South African National Defence Force to hotspot areas, but critics say the response was slower than in previous cycles of xenophobic violence in 2019 and 2015. The African Union urged both governments to resolve the crisis through dialogue.
At the heart of the tensions is economic competition. South Africa has an official unemployment rate of 32.9 percent, and immigrants are frequently blamed for taking jobs in the informal sector. Analysts point to structural unemployment and inadequate urban planning as root causes.
The incident threatens to disrupt one of Africa most important bilateral relationships. Nigerian investors in South Africa telecommunications and banking sectors are reportedly reviewing their exposure. As both governments navigate the diplomatic fallout, the May 2026 xenophobic crisis is a reminder that continental integration requires more than tariff reduction it requires social cohesion.