Nigeria says it has completed evacuation of nearly 1,500 citizens from South Africa

Nigeria said it has completed the evacuation of its citizens from South Africa, airlifting 1,490 people between June 10 and July 15 as anti-immigrant groups increased pressure on undocumented foreigners to leave.

Foreign ministry spokesman Kimiebi Ebienfa said Friday that the evacuation had ended. Foreign nationals from several African countries, including Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda and Zimbabwe, have also been leaving South Africa for weeks under government-assisted repatriation programmes.

The source described South Africa as a long-standing destination for documented and undocumented African workers. It said the country has faced weeks of protests and unrest targeting immigrants, who are accused by protesters of taking jobs and resources.

The departures began after fringe South African groups increased demands for undocumented migrants to leave by June 30. The unrest included violent protests and clashes that killed at least four foreign nationals.

Other governments have also reported repatriations. Malawi said earlier in July that it had brought back 38,000 nationals in one month. Zimbabwe reported repatriating nearly 21,300 citizens. Uganda said about 1,100 of its nationals had been repatriated, while hundreds of Ghanaians, Mozambicans and Kenyans have also left.

Nigeria's foreign minister, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said earlier this month that conditions for foreigners in South Africa were deteriorating. She urged South African authorities to investigate the June 28 killings of two Nigerians, Musa Yunana Joe and Charles Iroegbu, during what she called ongoing xenophobic protests and attacks on migrants. South African police said the deaths were not connected to the protests.

South African authorities have been accused of not doing enough to stop the violence, which has included the burning and looting of immigrant-owned shops.

Ebienfa said in a Thursday statement that Nigeria valued its longstanding bilateral relations with South Africa but rejected xenophobia, racial intolerance and violence against foreign nationals. He said that, despite some Nigerian lawmakers calling for a hardline response, Abuja would continue to engage South Africa through diplomatic channels.