About 150 Malawians are returning home as anti-migrant tensions continue to escalate in South Africa.
A group of 150 Malawians is expected to arrive home on Monday after being repatriated from South Africa following growing concerns over xenophobic violence and intimidation.
Malawian authorities said the returnees were among several foreign nationals who sought refuge in temporary camps in Mossel Bay, located in South Africa’s Western Cape Province. The move follows reports of attacks, door-to-door intimidation, and the deaths of two Mozambican nationals in the area.
Several African countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe, have also launched evacuation efforts for their citizens amid fears of rising anti-foreigner sentiment. Anti-migrant groups have reportedly demanded that undocumented migrants leave South Africa by 30 June.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced new measures to tackle illegal migration while urging citizens not to take the law into their own hands and condemning all forms of xenophobia.
Authorities across the region are continuing efforts to protect affected migrants as tensions over immigration remain high.
