South Africa’s Xenophobic Violence against Nigerian Immigrants and Bilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation with Nigeria

Abstract

This paper examines South Africa’s xenophobic violence against Nigerian immigrants and her bilateral trade and economic cooperation with Nigeria. The xenophobic attacks have great potential in fuelling hostilities between South Africa and other countries whose nationals have become victims of many years of the uncontrolled dastardly acts. This paper also examined South Africa’s xenophobic violence and it's effects on economic cooperation and bilateral with To find out how South Africa's xenophobic violence against Nigerian immigrants affected it's bilateral trade and economic cooperation with Nigeria, the study relied on the scapegoat theory of intergroup conflict as the framework of analysis. In the research process, the paper adopted the qualitative methods of data collection and analysis. Findings in the study revealed that the South African xenophobic violence did not have negative effects on its economic cooperation with Nigeria. The study therefore recommends that the African Union should develop frameworks for sanctioning against any form of xenophobic violence in Africa. Urgent steps should be taken to institutionalize measures and frameworks that counter xenophobic attitudes and all forms of discrimination and inequalities, racism and inherited apartheid legacies in South Africa.