The complexities of South African Xenophobia on Nigerians: The bilateral relations insight

• Main Authors: Ibrahim, Yusuf Kamaluddeen, Ahmad, Abdullahi Ayoade
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: JZ International relations
• Online Access: http://repo.uum.edu.my/28030/1/INSORPAD%202020%20319%20%20329.pdf; http://repo.uum.edu.my/28030/
• Institution: Universiti Utara Malaysia

The Nigerian/South African relationship is couched in the paradigm of complex interdependence. The fragments that conformed the two African major powers together include political, cultural, and economic spheres. Thus, any dissimilarity of self-interest between both countries would not only ruin their relationship but will implicate the whole African Union concept that unites Abuja/Pretoria relations. The sensitivity of the two countries with one another lay on the issue at hand. Also, over 100 South African companies, through the Department of Trade and Industry`s support, permeate the Nigerian market in several economic sectors. South African Companies such as; MTN, Stanbic, Multichoice Nigeria/M-Net, among others, are successfully operating in Nigeria. Also, Nigerian companies such as First Bank, Philips Consulting, among others, are also operating in South Africa. As long as South Africa/Nigeria are both dominant powers in their particular sub-region, a threat like xenophobia needs to be eradicated and coformulated some effective policies for the development of Africa. The study employed a qualitative document or library sources method and used past literature on different xenophobic violence noted in the journal articles, books, Newspapers, and others, in order to obtain essential information on the South African Xenophobia and its implications on Nigeria/South African relationship. The study adopted the frustration-aggression theory, and it found that the incessant xenophobic attacks on Nigerian nationals and other foreigners in South Africa are based on the perspective that the immigrants are the ones taking over their economy, jobs, and spreading diseases in the country. The study went further to provide some panacea to the heated issues of South African Xenophobia in order to strengthen the diplomatic ties between the two major powers in Africa.