Ethiopia is the latest African country to criticise the recent attacks in South Africa in which foreigners have been targeted.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement on Facebook, said it condemned “the heinous act of violence perpetrated against foreigners including our citizens in South Africa”.

In the statement, Ethiopia’s foreign ministry welcomed South African President Cyril Ramaphosas’s denunciation of the violence.

‘We are encouraged by the statement of President of the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, denouncing these acts of violence and his promise to arrest perpetrators and bring them to justice’ 

‘We would also like to see continued and robust measures taken by South African authorities to contain the violence and ensure our citizen’s security and safety.’ 

‘The Ethiopian Embassy in Pretoria is closely working with authorities and members of the community to address the situation.’

The trouble began on Sunday night in the commercial capital 

Johannesburg where mainly foreign-owned shops were torched and looted.

Five people have died in the violence, but police have not given details of their nationalities.