South Africa’s Acting Consul-General in Lagos, Kgothatso Xulu, has rejected the portrayal of her country as xenophobic, saying 364 people have been arrested in connection with attacks on African migrants.
Xulu spoke on Tuesday at the 47th annual conference of the Nigerian Society of International Law, held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs in Lagos.
She said the attacks should not be used to define the entire country, stressing that the South African government rejected xenophobia.
However, she acknowledged challenges associated with irregular migration and service delivery, urging African countries to address the root causes of migration through economic cooperation and increased intra-African trade.
Xulu also called for more structured dialogue among African countries on migration and xenophobia, urging Nigeria to help lead the discussions.
She linked stronger economic cooperation to the African Continental Free Trade Area, saying trade should create opportunities for growth rather than serve merely as a means of escaping economic hardship.
The diplomat further urged African countries to play a greater role in shaping international law and global policies affecting the continent.
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