State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Birhanu Tsegaye, held a high-level meeting yesterday with the South African Ambassador to Ethiopia, Nonkeba Losi, to address the escalating safety concerns of Ethiopians residing in South Africa. The meeting, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Addis Ababa, comes in the wake of a recent surge in targeted attacks against foreign nationals, including Ethiopian migrants and business owners.

During the discussions, State Minister Birhanu expressed the Ethiopian government’s deep concern regarding the recurring violence and xenophobic sentiments reported in various South African provinces. He emphasized that the safety and dignity of the Ethiopian diaspora are of paramount importance to the administration. The Minister highlighted that these incidents not only threaten lives and property but also strain the longstanding historical and diplomatic ties between the two nations.

"The recent reports of violence against foreign nationals, particularly those affecting our citizens, are deeply troubling," Birhanu told Ambassador Losi. He urged the South African government to take proactive and concrete measures to ensure the protection of Ethiopians and to prevent future occurrences of such hostility.

In response, Ambassador Nonkeba Losi reaffirmed that the South African government stands firmly against all forms of xenophobia and lawlessness. She noted that South African authorities have officially condemned the attacks, describing them as contrary to the values of the nation. The Ambassador informed the State Minister that law enforcement agencies are currently conducting rigorous investigations into the recent incidents to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

Furthermore, Ambassador Losi assured the Ethiopian side that the South African government is committed to transparency. She pledged that once the ongoing investigations are concluded, the findings and the subsequent legal actions taken will be shared formally with the Ethiopian government. The meeting concluded with both parties agreeing to strengthen communication channels between their respective security and diplomatic offices to safeguard the rights of citizens and maintain regional stability.