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Nigeria denies envoy recall over xenophobic attacks in S. Africa

Xinhua, April 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

Nigeria did not recall its envoy to South Africa on the ground of recent xenophobic attacks in that country, the Nigerian presidency said Tuesday.

Presidential spokesman Reuben Abati told reporters in the Nigerian capital Abuja that there was a mix-up and misinformation on the matter which, according to foreign affairs analyst, almost caused a diplomatic row between the two countries.

"The truth is that Nigeria has not recalled his envoy from South Africa. What has been done is to invite the charge d'affaires in that country for routine consultation by the (Nigerian) ministry of foreign affairs," the presidency official said, adding a recall of envoy is a serious and sensitive matter that has not happened.

Nigeria's foreign ministry, via a statement reaching Xinhua Tuesday, said summoning its envoy was a usual practice in the conduct of diplomacy. "For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to reiterate that the two senior diplomats have been invited to come for consultation after which they would return to their duty posts. They have, therefore, not been recalled as erroneously portrayed in the media," the foreign ministry statement said.

The South African government had condemned in strong terms the purported recall of Nigeria's envoy from the country, describing the development as "regrettable". Endi