The diplomatic exchange follows Ghana’s decision last month to arrange flights for hundreds of its nationals seeking to leave South Africa after a wave of protests and violence targeting foreign migrants intensified in several communities.

Tensions escalated after Ghana’s embassy in Pretoria published footage showing passengers aboard a repatriation flight waving Ghanaian flags as they departed South Africa. The images drew attention across social media and prompted a sharp response from South African authorities.

South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said Pretoria had initially sought to assist Ghana’s government in facilitating the voluntary return of its citizens in a constructive and humanitarian manner. However, he accused some Ghanaian officials of presenting an incomplete picture of events and undermining diplomatic norms.

“Our initial hope was simply to assist the Government of Ghana in repatriating its citizens in a humane and cordial manner,” Lamola said in comments posted on X. He added that South Africa would not continue to accept what he called “public spectacles” marked by misinformation and lacking diplomatic decorum.

His remarks were directed at statements made by Ghanaian Foreign Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, whose comments accompanied public discussion surrounding the evacuation effort.

The dispute highlights growing strains caused by recurring outbreaks of xenophobic sentiment in South Africa, where economic hardship and high unemployment have periodically fueled hostility toward foreign nationals. With unemployment exceeding 30%, migrants are often blamed by some groups for competition over jobs, housing and public services.

South Africa has long attracted both documented and undocumented workers from across the continent due to its comparatively diversified economy and greater employment opportunities. However, periodic anti-immigrant violence has remained a persistent challenge for successive governments.

Recent tensions intensified after a widely circulated video appeared to show a Ghanaian national being assaulted, sparking outrage among migrant communities and prompting renewed calls for protection of foreign residents.

The repatriation flights organized by Ghana underscore growing concerns among African governments about the safety of their citizens living in South Africa. At the same time, the public disagreement between Pretoria and Accra reflects the diplomatic sensitivities surrounding migration, public security and regional relations as authorities seek to manage the fallout from renewed anti-foreigner unrest.

Neither government has indicated any immediate change in bilateral relations, but the exchange has drawn attention to the broader challenge of addressing xenophobic violence while preserving regional cooperation and freedom of movement across the continent.

Lee’s trip would come shortly after Lam’s election as president last week, a development that consolidates his authority by combining the presidency with leadership of the ruling Communist Party, the country’s most powerful political position.

The meeting is expected to underscore ties between the two countries, which have developed extensive economic and strategic cooperation in recent years, though specific agenda details were not disclosed by the sources.

Reuters could not immediately verify further details of the planned discussions, and officials from both governments have not publicly commented on the visit.

In the video which received 1M views, Almenhali said Emiratis, including himself, had recently been targeted by online attacks that framed nationality as an insult. He rejected the characterization of the exchanges as rivalry or banter, describing them instead as racist behavior that relied on reducing an entire nationality and culture to a derogatory label.

“This is not rivalry, this is racist,” Almenhali said in the recording. He added that using nationality as an insult amounted to discrimination regardless of intent, and said such language reflected prejudice rather than legitimate criticism.

The video, shared on his X account, was presented as a direct response to what he described as repeated online comments. Almenhali did not address governments or public institutions, focusing instead on individual online behavior.

Framing of India and historical references

Almenhali’s remarks included references to India’s historical role in global civilization. In the video, he cited contributions he attributed to India in areas such as mathematics, medicine, astronomy, trade and philosophy, and argued that these achievements undermined any attempt to use “Indian” as a pejorative term.

He also linked those historical references to the modern global economy, saying contemporary technologies and systems relied on foundations developed over centuries. His comments framed the use of nationality as an insult as historically inaccurate, according to his remarks.

UAE and expatriate partnership

Almenhali also addressed the role of Indian expatriates in the UAE, saying the country had built partnerships with skilled professionals rather than merely accommodating them. In the video, he referred to engineers, doctors, entrepreneurs and builders from India as contributors to national development, describing this approach as a deliberate policy choice.

“The UAE didn’t tolerate Indians, it partnered with them,” he said, characterising that relationship as one based on mutual benefit and capability rather than weakness. He added that attempts to demean people through racial language failed to account for this dynamic.

His remarks positioned multicultural cooperation as integral to the UAE’s development model and rejected narratives that portray diversity as a liability.

Online discourse and wider implications

Almenhali’s video circulated widely online, drawing responses from users across the region. The comments were confined to social media and did not prompt any official statements from authorities. No government response had been issued by the UAE or elsewhere at the time of publication.

Almenhali ended the video by urging viewers to recognize the difference between criticism and racism, and said that the use of racial slurs reflected on those employing them rather than on their intended targets.