South Africa

The National Assembly has suspended all official visits to South Africa and directed lawmakers and officials to boycott legislative activities hosted or organised by South African authorities until further notice. The House of Representatives spokesman, Akin Rotimi, disclosed the decision in a statement issued on Friday. “The Leadership of the National Assembly, led by H.E. Senator Godswill Akpabio, GCON, President of the Senate, and Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD, GCON, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has directed the Clerk to the National Assembly to communicate to all Distinguished Senators, Honourable Members, Committees, departments, directorates, officials and staff the decision of the National Assembly to suspend all official visits to the Republic of South Africa and boycott South African-hosted or South African-organised legislative activities and engagements until further notice,” the statement read. The National Assembly took the decision amid growing concerns over reports of continued xenophobic attacks, violence, intimidation and destruction of property targeting Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa. It expressed particular concern over reports that Nigerians had been killed, injured, displaced and forced to abandon their businesses, investments, homes and other properties. “Of particular concern to the National Assembly is the persistence of these incidents despite repeated appeals by the Federal Government of Nigeria and other stakeholders to the South African authorities to take decisive measures to protect Nigerians and other foreign nationals and bring perpetrators of xenophobic violence to justice,” the statement stated. The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, said the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives reached the decision after consultations. The directive covers official visits by lawmakers, committees, officials and staff of the National Assembly. It also covers conferences, seminars, workshops, meetings, parliamentary exchanges and other legislative engagements organised, hosted, sponsored or co-sponsored by South African legislative authorities. The National Assembly said the suspension applies to both physical and virtual engagements. It added that no official delegation, member or staff could participate in any such engagement during the suspension without the prior express approval of the leadership. The statement read: “For clarity and strict compliance, the directive provides as follows: “a. All official visits to the Republic of South Africa by the National Assembly, its Committees, lawmakers, officials and staff are hereby suspended; “b. All participation by the National Assembly, its Committees, lawmakers, officials and staff in legislative activities, conferences, seminars, workshops, meetings, exchanges or other engagements organised, hosted, sponsored or co-sponsored by the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa or other South African legislative authorities is hereby suspended; “c. The suspension shall apply to both physical and virtual/online engagements, including invitations to participate in meetings, programmes, parliamentary exchanges and other legislative activities hosted from or by South African legislative institutions; “d. No official delegation, Committee, lawmaker, official or staff member of the National Assembly shall undertake or participate in any such engagement during the period of the suspension without the prior express approval of the Leadership of the National Assembly; and “e. All existing arrangements, invitations or proposed programmes involving official visits or legislative engagements in South Africa shall be reviewed in accordance with this directive.” The latest move comes after the National Assembly earlier this year condemned renewed xenophobic attacks in South Africa and supported diplomatic efforts to address violence against Nigerians. The National Assembly said it would maintain the suspension until further notice and could review the decision based on subsequent developments. It, however, clarified that the action does not represent a rejection of Nigeria’s longstanding diplomatic and people-to-people relationship with South Africa. “While parliamentary diplomacy and inter-legislative cooperation remain important, they must rest on mutual respect and a shared commitment to protecting life, property and lawful enterprise,” the statement noted.