By Muhammed Sherifdeen Omeiza
African unity has always been built on the idea that countries on the continent share common interests and should support one another in times of difficulty. However, the recurring tensions between Nigerians and South Africans raise an important question: what happens when the principle of solidarity is challenged by the actions of citizens, governments and institutions?
The principle of reciprocity is based on the idea that relationships should involve mutual respect, fairness and balance. In international relations, it means that countries often expect similar treatment in return for how they treat others. A country that protects the interests of another state’s citizens abroad may reasonably expect the same protection for its own citizens. When this balance is disrupted, diplomatic tensions often emerge.
The Nigeria–South Africa xenophobia crisis provides a clear example of this challenge. Over the years, Nigerian citizens living and working in South Africa have faced hostility, including attacks linked to economic competition, migration pressures and perceptions about foreign nationals. At the same time, South African businesses operating in Nigeria have benefited from the country’s large consumer market and economic opportunities.
The situation created a difficult diplomatic question: if Nigerians contribute to South Africa’s economy through business, labour and investment, should they not also receive protection and equal treatment under the law? Likewise, if South African companies are welcomed into Nigeria, should Nigeria expect its citizens and businesses to be treated fairly in South Africa?
The answer lies in reciprocity.
However, reciprocity should not be misunderstood as retaliation. When citizens face discrimination or violence abroad, the solution is not for another country’s citizens to become targets. Such responses only deepen divisions and weaken African unity. Reciprocity should instead operate through diplomacy, legal protection and institutional accountability.
One of the major causes of xenophobic tensions is economic insecurity. In societies where unemployment is high and opportunities are limited, migrants are sometimes wrongly blamed for broader economic problems. This creates resentment between communities that may actually share similar struggles. The challenge for governments is therefore not only managing migration but also addressing unemployment, inequality and weak social protection systems.
The Nigerian and South African experiences demonstrate that African integration cannot succeed through agreements alone. It requires citizens to believe that regional cooperation benefits them. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), for example, aims to increase trade and movement across the continent, but its success depends on whether countries can create systems that protect workers, investors and communities.
Governments also have a responsibility to communicate clearly with their populations. Political leaders should avoid using foreigners as convenient explanations for domestic challenges. Instead, they must focus on improving economic opportunities and strengthening institutions that enforce the rule of law.
For Nigeria and South Africa, reciprocity should mean building a relationship based on mutual respect rather than suspicion. Nigeria has historically played an important role in supporting African liberation movements and regional stability, while South Africa remains one of the continent’s most influential economies. Both countries benefit when cooperation replaces hostility.
The lesson from the xenophobia crisis is that African solidarity cannot survive on historical relationships alone. It must be supported by fairness, accountability and equal treatment. Countries cannot demand respect for their citizens abroad while ignoring the responsibility to protect foreigners within their own borders.
True reciprocity is therefore not about responding with anger when another country fails. It is about creating a standard where every African citizen, regardless of nationality, receives dignity, protection and justice wherever they live on the continent.
Only then can the vision of a united Africa move from political speeches into everyday reality.
– Muhammed Sherifdeen Omeiza is a Nigerian researcher and writer whose work explores the intersection of humanitarian action, human rights, gender equality and global governance. With a keen interest in public policy, democracy, and political economy, he examines how local experiences and global decisions shape humanitarian outcomes in times of crisis. His writings draw from African and international contexts, reflecting a commitment to justice, accountability, and people-centered governance in global affairs.
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