Nigeria evacuates hundreds from South Africa amid xenophobic attacks

The Nigerian government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has organized a large‑scale evacuation of nationals stranded in South Africa following renewed xenophobic violence. Three special Air Peace flights have already taken place: 258 Nigerians were flown back on 11 June, 66 on 24 June (paid for by a philanthropist), and 269 on 30 June. A fourth flight carrying 271 people departed Johannesburg on 2 July and arrived in Lagos early on 3 July, bringing the total number evacuated to 603. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced plans for three additional flights that will bring more than 700 Nigerians home, raising the overall operation to nearly 1,300 evacuees. All flights are fully funded by the federal government at no cost to the returnees. Nigerian officials accompanying the returnees included the High Commissioner to South Africa, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and representatives of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission. In parallel, the government said it will seek compensation from South Africa for businesses and property abandoned by those forced to leave, asking evacuees to document losses for future negotiations. The evacuations underscore Nigeria’s foreign‑policy priority of protecting its citizens abroad and highlight ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two nations over immigration delays and anti‑immigrant attacks.