Rep. Karen Bass (CA-37), chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, issued the following statement responding to escalating violence in South Africa:
“I call on both the South African and Nigerian governments to stand in solidarity against isolated malicious attacks against the people of Nigeria and South Africa. I am extremely concerned by the increased violence and retaliatory attacks against citizens in both countries and denounce violence of any kind on the people of Nigeria and South Africa including the rape and kidnapping of young girls, and gender-based violence against women and young children.
“There have been strides of collaboration made on the African continent this year including the historic signing of the Continental Free Trade Area Agreement. Nigeria and South Africa are tantamount to the success of this agreement. I urge the citizens of both countries to adhere to the rule of law and call on their governments to address the root causes of this conflict and help unify the citizens of both nations.”
