#AFROPHOBIA: South Africa Embassy In Nigeria Closed

South Africa has closed its embassy in Nigeria after threats on the premises following violent attacks targeting foreign nationals in South Africa.

Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of a continental economic conference in Cape Town, Foreign Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor said:

There is an Afrophobia we are sensing that exists, there is resentment and we need to address that.

Her remarks come after Nigeria has threatened to take definitive action in direct response to violence in South Africa.

Nigeria has also sent a special envoy to South Africa to register displeasure in the destruction of property belonging to Nigerians. The Western African state also announced that it will start voluntary repatriation of its citizens residing in South Africa.

When South Africa High Commissioner to Nigeria was summoned by Nigeria authorities, he denied reports of Afrophobia saying that the violence has also resulted in the looting from and destruction of shops owned by South Africa nationals.

In response to violence grounding the Southern African country, some countries have snubbed the continental economic conference underway in Cape Town, South Africa.

More: AF Reuters