XENOPHOBIC CONFLICT AND INVESTMENT RELATIONS BETWEEN NIGERIA AND SOUTH- AFRICA

Abstract

The recurrent xenophobic conflict in South Africa has attracted serious academic interest in recent times. Scholars have interrogated the consequences of xenophobia on the political economy of South Africa, but little attempt has been made to examine the impact of xenophobic conflict on investment relations between Nigeria and South Africa. Recent studies have revealed that the Nigerian-South African relations have passed through three different phases. The first was Nigeria’s confrontational and hostile engagement with the evil apartheid regime in South Africa from 1960 to 1993. Phase two was characterized by competition and cooperation between the two emerging giants of Africa, 1994-2006. The third phase witnessed xenophobic conflict. While scholars have interrogated the first two phases, the third phase has not attracted the required academic attention. This study examined the impact of xenophobic conflict on investment relations between South Africa and Nigeria. The specific objective of the study is to examine how human rights abuse of Nigerians in South Africa worsened investment imbalance between Nigeria and South Africa. The study adopted mixed methods of data collection, which includes documentary. Time series research design was used to analyze data using frustration-aggression theory. This study adopted the qualitative data analysis. It was discovered that bilateral investment relations between Nigeria and South Africa have been cordial, but the incidences of xenophobic conflict against Nigerians have been the major reasons for sporadic acrimony between the two countries.  We suggest that the best way of mitigating xenophobia in South Africa is to reflect on the contributions and sacrifices made by Nigeria, among other countries, for the freedom of South Africa.