WATCH: South Africa temporarily closes embassy in Nigeria after attacks

Nigerian police officers beef up security during a protest in Abuja, capital of Nigeria, Sept. 4, 2019. South Africa has closed its embassy in Lagos after a spate of attacks on South African businesses in response to anti-foreigner violence in SA. File photo: Xinhua/Olatunji Obasa.

Nigerian police officers beef up security during a protest in Abuja, capital of Nigeria, Sept. 4, 2019. South Africa has closed its embassy in Lagos after a spate of attacks on South African businesses in response to anti-foreigner violence in SA. File photo: Xinhua/Olatunji Obasa.

Published Sep 5, 2019

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Cape Town - South Africa closed its embassy in Nigeria's

commercial capital Lagos after a spate of attacks on South African

businesses in response to anti-foreigner violence in South Africa,

the government said Thursday.

The embassy temporarily closed out of concern for the safety of its

staff, said foreign affairs spokesman Lunga Ngqengelele.

"We have been in communication with the Nigerian government and we

have been assured of the protection of the businesses belonging to

South Africa," Ngqengelele told local broadcaster eNCA.

The vandals attacked numerous South African-owned businesses in

Nigeria, including South African telecom giant MTN, supermarket chain

Shoprite and clothing retailer PEP.

The violence broke out in reprisal for a wave of attacks at the

weekend against foreign African nationals in South Africa's Gauteng

province.

Botswana meanwhile issued a travel advisory warning its citizens to

"exercise extreme caution" and remain vigilant at all times in South

Africa.

Five people were killed and more than 300 people have been arrested

since the violence erupted, in which shops were looted and vehicles

torched. Most affected were South Africa's economic hub Johannesburg

and capital Pretoria.

The African Union, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and South

African President Cyril Ramaphosa have all condemned the xenophobic

violence.  

In Nigeria, the reprisal attacks took place in Lagos, as well as the

capital Abuja, the university town of Ibadan and the city of Uyo,

Nigeria's government said in a statement.

Numerous South African-owned businesses have closed and been placed

under police protection. 

Thousands of students Wednesday protested in Zambia's capital Lusaka.

The students also attempted to attack and loot several South African

businesses.

dpa

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