SERAP Wants SADC To Sanction South Africa Over Xenophobic Attacks On Nigerians, Others

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has written an open letter to King Mswati III of Swaziland, and Chairperson, Southern African Development Community, (SADC).

In the letter dated February 24, 2017, the group urged the King to “convene an emergency summit of the SADC heads of state and government to discuss the persistent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other foreign nationals living in South Africa.”

The group further sought that SADC “Use the Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security Cooperation within SADC to immediately set up an independent and impartial body to investigate all acts of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other foreign nationals. The investigation’s findings and recommendations should be made public, suspected perpetrators brought to justice and victims must enjoy the right to an effective remedy and reparation.”

In the letter signed by SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation said that, “persistent and longstanding xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other foreign nationals, the complete impunity of perpetrators and the failure of the authorities to provide an effective remedy and reparation to victims directly undermine SADC mandates on regional integration and human rights.”

The letter reads in part: “The immigration status of Nigerians and other foreign nationals who are victims of the attacks in South Africa can never justify any xenophobic attacks on them.”

“SERAP is seriously concerned about the apparent complicity of the South African authorities and officials in persistent and serious human rights violations and abuses against thousands of Nigerians living in the country, and/or the failure of the authorities to exercise due diligence to prevent those violations and abuses.”

“We are also concerned about the failure of the South African authorities to provide an effective remedy and reparation to victims, including restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction and guarantees of non-repetition.”

“SERAP urges you to use the opportunity of your term as chair of SADC to put pressure on the South African government to resolve the persistent occurrence of xenophobia in the country and ensure there is no impunity for the perpetrators.”

“The SADC must remind the government of its obligations and commitments including under the SADC treaties and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to protect everyone including Nigerians living in its territory from violent attacks, regardless of their status.”

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