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LequteMan
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The recall of Nigeria's top diplomat after a spate of xenophobic attacks in South Africa follows several similar spats that expose the two countries' deep rivalry for economic and political dominance in Africa, Reuters reports.
Televised images of armed gangs attacking immigrants and looting foreign-owned stores in Johannesburg sparked an outrage in Nigeria, with hundreds marching to South African owned brands like MTN and Shoprite to protest.
Last September, a church hostel collapsed in Lagos, killing 115 people, most of them South African. Nigeria was criticised by the South African govt for its slow response to the disaster and what some saw as a haphazard rescue effort.
Weeks after the hostel collapse, South Africa seized $9.3 million from a private jet carrying two Nigerians, funds Abuja said were for a legitimate arms deal. South Africa said the deal was being conducted without relevant permits.
Abuja accused South Africa of xenophobia when Nigerians were deported after staff at Johannesburg airport believed their yellow fever certificates were fake. Arik Air, Nigeria's biggest airline, briefly cancelled flights to South Africa.
Nigeria banned 2009 film "District 9", a hit movie directed by a South African that depicted Nigerians as cannibals, criminals and prostitutes who had sex with aliens.
Such tit-for-tat slights are becoming increasingly common and are reflective of a more serious battle for economic dominance and control over Africa's representation on the global stage.
Both countries are also lobbying for a permanent position to represent Africa on the United Nations Security Council.
Given their political and economic heft -- together, the two economies are larger than the rest of sub-Saharan Africa's combined -- relations between South Africa and Nigeria could be decisive for the future of a continent of 1 billion people.
"Nigeria and South Africa are like two prisoners in the same cell of poverty, inequality and bad leadership," Nigerian writer and political commentator Elnathan John said.
"Together they could muster the strength to break their bonds and overpower the jailer but instead they spend time feuding with each other in a needlessly fractious relationship."
#Nigeria #SouthAfrica #Xenophobia
Televised images of armed gangs attacking immigrants and looting foreign-owned stores in Johannesburg sparked an outrage in Nigeria, with hundreds marching to South African owned brands like MTN and Shoprite to protest.
Last September, a church hostel collapsed in Lagos, killing 115 people, most of them South African. Nigeria was criticised by the South African govt for its slow response to the disaster and what some saw as a haphazard rescue effort.
Weeks after the hostel collapse, South Africa seized $9.3 million from a private jet carrying two Nigerians, funds Abuja said were for a legitimate arms deal. South Africa said the deal was being conducted without relevant permits.
Abuja accused South Africa of xenophobia when Nigerians were deported after staff at Johannesburg airport believed their yellow fever certificates were fake. Arik Air, Nigeria's biggest airline, briefly cancelled flights to South Africa.
Nigeria banned 2009 film "District 9", a hit movie directed by a South African that depicted Nigerians as cannibals, criminals and prostitutes who had sex with aliens.
Such tit-for-tat slights are becoming increasingly common and are reflective of a more serious battle for economic dominance and control over Africa's representation on the global stage.
Both countries are also lobbying for a permanent position to represent Africa on the United Nations Security Council.
Given their political and economic heft -- together, the two economies are larger than the rest of sub-Saharan Africa's combined -- relations between South Africa and Nigeria could be decisive for the future of a continent of 1 billion people.
"Nigeria and South Africa are like two prisoners in the same cell of poverty, inequality and bad leadership," Nigerian writer and political commentator Elnathan John said.
"Together they could muster the strength to break their bonds and overpower the jailer but instead they spend time feuding with each other in a needlessly fractious relationship."
#Nigeria #SouthAfrica #Xenophobia
