Nigerian and South African lawmakers clashed during a session at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region Conference in Lilongwe, Malawi. The diplomatic dispute erupted over how to officially define and address violence targeted at foreign nationals. 

The prominent conference brings together over 300 legislators and officials from across the continent to address critical issues pertaining to democracy, human rights, and regional cooperation.

During the debate, the Nigerian representatives demanded that the recent attacks on foreigners in South Africa must be labeled as “xenophobia,” warning that avoiding the term masks targeted discrimination.However, South African representatives fiercely rejected the term, arguing that any regional discussion on the matter must focus heavily on unlawful migration and the enforcement of local immigration laws.

Watch a clip of the heated debate