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A debate on violence against foreign nationals has turned into a diplomatic dispute between Nigerian and South African lawmakers at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region Conference in Lilongwe, Malawi.
The disagreement broke out during a session focused on democracy, human rights and regional cooperation, after Nigerian delegates insisted that attacks targeting foreigners should be described as xenophobic violence.
South African representatives rejected the use of the term, arguing that the discussion should focus on illegal immigration, border controls and the enforcement of immigration laws.
The exchange, which participants described as tense and politically sensitive, has exposed differing views among African lawmakers on how best to address violence involving migrants.
More than 300 delegates from across the continent are attending the conference, which runs until August 15. However, the disagreement over migration and the treatment of foreign nationals has become one of the most debated issues at the gathering.
South Africa has faced repeated incidents of violence targeting migrants, including attacks against African nationals from other countries. While its government has condemned such acts, officials have also maintained that immigration regulations must be enforced to manage undocumented migration.
Nigerian lawmakers argued that placing too much focus on immigration status could overlook cases where individuals are attacked simply because they are foreigners.
The debate centred on a difficult question facing many African countries: how can governments enforce immigration laws without allowing discrimination against migrants?
The Nigerian delegation maintained that the term “xenophobia” accurately reflects violence motivated by hostility towards foreigners, while South African lawmakers argued that broader immigration challenges must be considered when discussing the issue.
The confrontation has revealed the challenges facing African institutions as they seek common positions on migration, identity and the protection of citizens living outside their home countries.
For a conference built around African cooperation, the disagreement has shown that member states still face significant differences over how to define and respond to violence against migrants.
