HOSTILITY WITHOUT BORDERS: XENOPHOBIA, BILATERAL TENSIONS, AND THE AFCFTA CHALLENGE IN NIGERIA–SOUTH AFRICA RELATIONS, 2015–2025

Abstract

This article critically examines the impact of xenophobic violence on Nigeria–South Africa relations between 2015 and 2025, with emphasis on diplomatic tensions, economic consequences, and prospects for future bilateral cooperation. Drawing on secondary data from academic literature, government reports, and international organizations, the study employs a qualitative thematic analysis grounded in Frustration-Aggression and Social Identity theories. The study found that recurrent xenophobic attacks in South Africa have strained bilateral ties between the country and Nigeria, leading to diplomatic withdrawals, retaliatory protests against South African businesses in Nigeria, and disruptions in trade and investment flows. Beyond the immediate bilateral dimension, the violence has also weakened confidence in continental integration frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), undermining Africa’s collective development agenda. While both countries have attempted reconciliation through the Bi-National Commission and joint policy dialogues, underlying socioeconomic drivers such as unemployment, inequality, and weak governance remain unresolved. This study contributes to scholarship by linking grassroots xenophobic hostility to elite-level diplomatic and economic consequences in Africa’s two largest economies, an area that has remained underexplored in current literature. It concludes with actionable recommendations for strengthening diplomatic engagement, promoting social cohesion, and embedding anti-xenophobia mechanisms within regional integration policies.