DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN NIGERIA AND SOUTH AFRICA IN PERSPECTIVES: THE PROS AND CONS SINCE 1999

Abstract

Nigeria–South Africa relations since 1999 have been characterised by intermittent conflicts, despite a history of cooperation and common continental aspirations. Events such as the 2012 deportation of Nigerians, the 2019 xenophobic assaults, and competition for African multilateral leadership underscore a continual vulnerability in bilateral diplomacy. This study employed a qualitative research design utilising secondary data source, such as official records, policy documents, and academic publications. The research, informed by Realism and Constructivism, examines how material concerns and identity conceptions influence bilateral behaviour. Realism emphasises state-centric self-interest, whereas Constructivism examines ideational elements such as identity and colonial legacies. Findings indicate that although collaboration in commerce, peacekeeping, and AU politics unites both nations, nationalistic tendencies, elite populism, and fragile institutional frameworks frequently hinder advancement. South Africa's migration policy and Nigeria's responsive diplomacy intensify the division. Bilateral competition, while frequently perceived negatively, can promote regional integration if managed wisely. The diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and South Africa is inadequately structured. Despite common leadership ambitions, the actions of both governments exhibit conflicting tendencies between Afrocentric principles and self-serving nationalism. This dyad illustrates how great power rivalry, in the absence of institutional maturity, undermines continental diplomacy, unlike the more stable bilateral models in East Africa. The study employs Constructivist and Postcolonial frameworks to illustrate how colonial histories, identity politics, and elite behaviours perpetuate inconsistencies in African diplomatic practice. It challenges simplistic dichotomies of rivalry and partnership, highlighting the intricacies of intra-African power dynamics. Therefore, it is necessary to institutionalise the Nigeria–South Africa Bi-National Commission with enduring citizen protection procedures.