African envoys call for Human Rights Council investigation in 'Xenophobic' attacks on nationals in India

Dubbing the recent violence against African students in India as 'Xenophobic', heads of African missions in India have called for an independent investigation by the Human Rights Council as well as other human rights bodies into these incidents.

The envoys also expressed disappointment that these acts of violence were not "sufficiently condemned by the Indian Authorities."

The development comes after four Nigerian nationals were thrashed by the locals in Greater Noida last week when a Class 12 student in NSG Black Cats Enclave died due to suspected drug overdose, which the locals blamed on the Nigerian students.

"As regards the recent unfortunate incident in Greater Noida, the African Heads of Mission strongly condemn the incident and express their deep concern and also take note that these reprehensible events, both outstanding and unresolved cases against Africans, were not sufficiently condemned by the Indian Authorities," said a statement issued by the Office of the Dean of African Group Head of Missions.

"The meeting unanimously agreed that those accumulated attacks against Africans are Xenophobic and racial in nature," the statement said, adding, "they equally expressed their expectations for strong condemnation from the highest political level (both nationally and locally) of the Government of India, as well as expediting legal actions against the perpetrators."

The heads also agreed to take further actions including the call for an independent investigation by the Human Rights Council as well as other human rights bodies, and also to comprehensively report the matter to the African Union Commission, said the statement.