Nigeria sends envoy to South Africa over anarchy

Nigeria’s president has sent an envoy to South Africa following the looting in Johannesburg.

The government alleges that Nigerian-owned businesses have been targeted in the South African city, saying in a tweet that “enough is enough”.

Other African governments have issued warnings to their citizens over the violence.

South African officials have blamed criminality rather than xenophobia for the current problems.

In a statement, Nigeria’s high commission in South Africa described the situation as “anarchy”, and has called on Nigerians to come forward to report what has happened to them.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari wants the envoy to meet his South African counterpart to “express Nigeria’s displeasure over the treatment of her citizens; and assurance of the safety of their lives and property”.

On Monday, dozens of people were arrested in Johannesburg after rioters looted shops and torched buildings and vehicles.

Police fired tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades in an attempt to quell the unrest.

Violence continued on Tuesday in Johannesburg’s Alexandra township.

Ethiopia’s embassy in South Africa has advised its citizens to close their businesses during the ongoing tension, according to Ethiopia’s state-linked Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC).

It also says that Ethiopians are advised to “distance themselves from any confrontation and conflict” and not go out wearing expensive jewellery.

Meanwhile, Zambia’s transport ministry has said that lorry drivers should “avoid travelling to South Africa until the security situation improves”.

The statement refers to reported attacks on foreign lorry drivers. The South African IOL news site says that there have been “numerous incidents” of vehicles being looted.

But South Africa’s police minister, Bheki Cele, said on Monday that “criminality rather than xenophobia” was to blame for the “senseless violence”.

“[Xenophobia] is used as an excuse,” he told reporters after visiting Johannesburg’s Central Business District, where much of the unrest has been taking place.

 “Nothing… has sparked any form of conflict between the South Africans and foreign nationals.” –BBC