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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nigeria has denied recalling the Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria to South Africa, Martin Cobham, and the Consul General in Johannesburg, as reported in the media.
In a statement issued on Monday from the Public Communications division of the ministry, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Bashir Wali, explained that the two senior diplomats had been invited for routine consultation after which they would return to their duty posts, a practice he said was usual in the conduct of diplomacy.
The Acting High Commissioner, Martin Cobham and Deputy High Commissioner, Uche Ajulu-Okeke, were on Saturday asked to return to Nigeria for consultations over the xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
The decision came days after Nigerian lawmakers asked the presidency to recall the envoy for consultations.
Mr Wali said that despite concerns of the Federal Government and the people of Nigerian over the xenophobic attacks on foreigners in South Africa including Nigerians, there were satisfactory indications that the South African authorities had taken firm measures to stem the tide of attacks.
“While there are continuing positive developments, both countries are discussion on the matter towards putting the unfortunate saga behind as soon as possible,” the Minister said.
Attacks on foreigners started on March 20 after an influential Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini, spoke out against foreign workers.
“Let us pop our head lice,” he said. “We must remove ticks and place them outside in the sun. We ask foreign nationals to pack their belongings and be sent back.”
Seven people have been killed in attacks.
He has since said those remarks were taken out of context and that he opposes violence.
A group in Nigeria has asked the ICC to investigate the attacks and the chances that it was triggered by the Zulu King’s speech.
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