\n<\/p>\n
The safety of African immigrants in South Africa is deteriorating, Nigeria\u2019s foreign minister has warned, after two Nigerians were killed in disputed circumstances during anti-immigrant protests.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are no signs that the situation is improving,\u201d Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu said on Monday, while announcing more evacuation flights.<\/p>\n
The minister demanded South African authorities investigate the deaths of two Nigerians, Musa Yunana Joe and Charles Iroegbu, killed amid \u201cthe ongoing xenophobic protests and attacks on migrants\u201d.<\/p>\n
South African police said Joe\u2019s killing did not appear to be related to the protests, but could not immediately comment on Iroegbu\u2019s death.<\/p>\n
Nigeria\u2019s foreign ministry says Joe was killed in front of his shop in the northeastern city of \u2060\u2060eMalahleni by unidentified criminals on June 28 , while Iroegbu was killed by South African police during interrogation in Pretoria on the same day.<\/p>\n
In a statement on Sunday, the ministry said: \u201cWe wish to place the Government of South Africa on \u200c\u200cnotice that if the situation continues to persist, all options remain on the table, some of which will be activated if the uncultured and provocative trend of intolerance\u2026 against foreigners is not addressed\u201d.<\/p>\n
South African foreign ministry spokesman Chrispin Phiri said the government had asked Nigeria\u2019s High Commission to submit \u201cany actionable information to our law enforcement authorities, which will enable a thorough, objective investigation in accordance with the rule of law\u201d.<\/p>\n
There have been weeks of protests against undocumented migrants, with many South Africans blaming workers from other African countries for taking their jobs and putting a strain on their social services.<\/p>\n
South Africa\u2019s government has been accused of not doing enough to crack down on the violence, which has claimed the lives of several foreigners and seen shops owned by immigrants looted and torched.<\/p>\n
Mozambique said that five of its citizens were killed in xenophobic attacks in late May. South Africa \u2060\u2060said the number was only two.<\/p>\n
Ghana and South Africa were embroiled in a diplomatic row last week, following the killing of a Ghanaian national. The South African government said the death of Bashiru Isak was not linked to anti-immigrant protests.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of Nigerians, among tens of thousands of foreigners, have already left South Africa, once a popular destination for documented and undocumented African immigrants due to its relatively strong economy.<\/p>\n
Uganda\u2019s High Commission in Pretoria announced on Monday that a fourth group of Ugandan nationals were voluntarily repatriating.<\/p>\n
South Africa has had a longstanding violent crime problem that precedes the outbreak of xenophobic violence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n