Relations between South Africa and other African countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and Malawi, have been strained over the past few weeks due to xenophobic attacks. The latest wave of violence began in April with online videos showing South Africans carrying sticks and running over and beating black foreigners and telling them to leave their country.
Violence and anti-immigrant protests in various parts of the country have reignited a worrying trend that has been going on for decades. Attacks on African migrants, refugees and asylum seekers forced the United Nations predict South Africa was “on the brink of explosive xenophobic violence” in 2022.
The global body called for concrete government action against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance related to migrants and minority groups.
These attacks are often led by groups that scapegoat African foreigners and blame the country's economic problems, poor service delivery, and high crime rates for their presence, however. studies Has rejected these claims.
The latest round of violence continues in South Africa.
Premium Times reports that attacks on foreign-owned businesses and immigrants led to diplomatic tensions between South Africa and other African countries in 2019 and 2015.
The worst outbreak of xenophobic violence in the country occurred in May 2008 when South Africans targeted foreign immigrants from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi and Somalia who lived in areas such as Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, the Free State and the Eastern Cape. Shops, homes and businesses owned by foreigners were looted, burned or destroyed. At least 60 people were killed and hundreds were injured in the violence that year. This also led to the displacement of thousands of migrants who fled fearing for their lives.
The deaths of two Nigerians, five Mozambicans and five Ethiopians have also been linked to the latest wave of the trend. This means that at least 12 African immigrants have been killed in suspected xenophobic attacks in the past three months.
This newspaper reports that Nigerians were allegedly beaten to death by South African National Defense Force (SANDF) officers in Port Elizabeth in April, while Mozambicans were killed. informed Died in June.
Premium Times has detailed reports on the various reactions of African countries to the violence in Pretoria. State authorities across the continent, at different times, issued safety advice Warning citizens to remain vigilant or advising people at home to postpone non-essential travel to any South African city. Countries that have issued such guidelines include Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Lesotho.
In April and May, Ghana and Nigeria Summoned The High Commissioners of South Africa will express their outrage at the violence against Africans in South Africa in their respective countries. Nigeria fully demanded Investigation In the case of the deaths of two civilians allegedly killed by security personnel.
Yet the most prominent diplomatic response has been the repatriation of citizens from the country, a decision which led to television address by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who attacked the state's intolerance towards groups that incite tension and “take the laws into their own hands”.
He declared that although people's concerns over illegal immigration are legitimate, “only authorized government officials can take action against violations of our law.”
Repatriation by African states
ghana
At least five African countries have repatriated or are working towards repatriating their citizens from South Africa.
Ghana became the first African country to organize an evacuation due to xenophobia with the return of approximately 300 citizens from Johannesburg to Accra in May. On Monday, the country announced it had evacuated nearly 1,000 Ghanaians – an exercise the government described as fulfilling its pledge to protect civilians from violence.
“We kept our promise. No Ghanaian has been left in harm's way,” Ghana's Minister of Foreign Affairs Samuel Ablakwa wrote in a statement.
The paper reports that Ghanaian authorities have also launched a jobs initiative to provide employment opportunities for returnees.
Ghana has been vocal about its stance on the oppression of Africans in South Africa. State officials say these attacks are contrary to pan-African ideals of African unity and solidarity.
mozambique
Mozambique has repatriated about 700 of its citizens. It began the practice last week after five Mozambicans were killed in anti-immigrant attacks. local media informed About 169 civilians, including 16 minors, were brought back on Tuesday. The state is still hopeful of more people coming back as it is intensifying its repatriation drive.
The country has also begun diplomatic processes to bring home the bodies of Mozambicans killed in the violence. Earlier, it was reported that about 300 civilians had already returned to their homes, and preparations were underway to repatriate other displaced Mozambicans.
The government of Mozambique had said, “The survivors in South Africa have been sheltered in a safe location in the Western Cape province, and the process of their repatriation to Mozambique is already underway. Given the instability, the current situation is expected to worsen.”
malawi
About 171 Malawians arrived in Lilongwe on Tuesday as the first group of returnees. They included 115 men, 43 women and 13 children who had taken refuge in temporary shelters in Mossel Bay after violence and door-to-door harassment drove them from their homes in parts of South Africa.
The journey to Malawi was by road. Malawians who followed the call for voluntary evacuation traveled from the Western Cape province through Zimbabwe and Mozambique, and entered the country through the Mwanza border post. Later, according to officials, they proceeded to Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre, where their visas were processed before traveling to their respective local destinations.
Picture shared A long line of people is shown queuing at an empty stadium on the X by the government of Malawi. It appears they are waiting to be registered.
The government announced that it would “continue to provide transit and consular assistance to displaced Malawians in South Africa.”
zimbabwe
South Africa's neighbor Zimbabwe has also recalled its citizens. local media informed That the Zimbabwean government evacuated about 139 citizens in recent days. On Sunday, the first group of returnees from South Africa arrived in the country. The second, a group of 35 adults and 30 children, arrived a day later.
according to media reportsThe group recalled experiences of violence and intimidation by South African citizens, saying that these attacks targeted everyone regardless of legal status.
Nigeria
The Nigerian government will begin the repatriation of more than 1,000 citizens from South Africa on Wednesday evening. The first batch is expected to reach Lagos on Thursday morning.
Authorities signaled readiness to facilitate the return of civilians following the killing in May of two Nigerians, identified as Amaramiro Emmanuel and Ekpenyong Andrew. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, citizens started registering for voluntary evacuation soon after the announcement.
On Sunday, ministry spokeswoman Kimibi Abianfa said, exposure The verification and screening process for potential evacuees has begun and will continue till Wednesday to accommodate more applicants.
According to the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the screening is being jointly organized by the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and the South African Department of Home Affairs.
More than 1,000 citizens have been screened so far. Also, returnees will no longer have to pay for their flights, as indicated by the ministry earlier. Mr Abianfa said the government planned to deploy aircraft to bring them home.
Nigeria has also vocally rebuked South Africa for its persistent xenophobia. Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu said on Monday that Nigeria was “unhappy” with South Africa and that the Nigerian government may consider retaliating.
Also read: Xenophobia: Nigerians will start arriving from South Africa from Thursday, official
“It is a situation that we are considering. It is up to our legislature. It is at the highest level. It is a decision that has to be taken at the highest level of government, but it is not off the table.”
Although President Ramaphosa has condemned the violence, his government has chosen to focus more on illegal migration, claiming it is the cause of the problem. He said that he would send his envoys to African countries for a long-term solution to the crisis.
He said these solutions would target the root causes of migration, including “conflict, instability and economic hardship”. In his televised address, he stressed the need to work with African countries to implement new measures to control illegal migration.