S. Africa Censures Nigeria Over Summoning Envoys

The South African government on Sunday dismissed as "unfortunate and regrettable" Nigeria's decision to summon its envoys in reaction to recent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other foreigners in the country.



"A government resorts to such an extraordinary diplomatic step to express outrage at actions or behavior of another government," South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said in a statement.



"We are not sure which actions or behavior of the South African government the Nigerian government is protesting," it said.



It asserted that South Africans, along with their government, have been "decisive and unequivocal in condemning and rejecting the attacks on foreign nationals."



On Saturday, Nigeria summoned Acting High Commissioner in Pretoria Martin Cobham and Deputy High Commissioner in Johannesburg Uche Ajulu-Okeke citing recent anti-immigrant attacks in South Africa.



The violence began earlier this month in Durban, where mobs descended on the homes and shops of a number of foreign migrants.



The victims were accused of stealing jobs from native South Africans, committing crimes, and putting a burden on the country's social services.



At least seven people have been killed so far in the violence, which has since spread to parts of Johannesburg, South Africa's largest city.



South Africa dismissed the Nigerian decision to summon its envoys as "unfortunate and regrettable."



"It would be curious for a sisterly country to want to exploit such a painful episode for whatever agenda," the DIRCO said.



In apparent rebuke, South Africa said it shall continue to support "and not blame" the Nigerian government as it battles Boko Haram militants who continue to kill many innocent civilians.



"We hope that the more than 200 girls kidnapped by Boko Haram will someday be reunited with their families," it added.



One year since Boko Haram militants stormed a sleepy town in Nigeria's restive Borno State and abducted scores of girls from their dormitory, families are still waiting in agony for their rescue.



The Nigerian government has come under fierce criticism from families and activists over failure to rescue the girls.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Gauteng