Xenophobic Attacks Surge: 262 Nigerians Flee South Africa as June 30 Ultimatum Looms

Hundreds of African migrants are fleeing South Africa as anti-immigrant violence escalates across the country. On Tuesday, a group of 262 Nigerians, mostly women and children, arrived in Lagos after being repatriated from South Africa, where anti-immigrant protests have intensified in several cities [170808]. The Nigerian government has started evacuating its citizens following reports of xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals, making Nigeria the latest African country to repatriate its people as anti-migrant sentiment grows [171092].

The violence has been widespread. In Mossel Bay, two Mozambicans were killed and dozens of homes burned in informal settlements, with attacks targeting specific ethnic groups [170801]. Outside Durban’s Department of Home Affairs, dozens of Congolese nationals remain camped out after fleeing their homes, sleeping outside the police station for safety [170801]. Protesters have set June 30 as the deadline for all undocumented migrants to leave South Africa, with groups armed with machetes during recent demonstrations warning of consequences for those who remain [175098].

The repatriation effort is significant. Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, welcomed 268 Nigerian returnees at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, marking an official response to growing safety concerns [170776]. Meanwhile, the government of Malawi has started a nationwide fundraising campaign to bring home an estimated 10,000 citizens stranded in South Africa, describing it as one of the country’s largest humanitarian rescue operations [174556]. Namibian entrepreneurs who use the “order with me” business model have stopped trips to South Africa due to safety fears and are scheduled to meet with Namibia’s Prime Minister to discuss the crisis [171475].

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on citizens to stop blaming migrants for the country’s problems, warning against efforts to exploit rising public anger following a recent surge in anti-immigrant unrest and attacks [174744]. He urged calm, saying that scapegoating foreigners will not solve South Africa’s deep economic challenges [174744]. The United Nations office in South Africa has also called for calm, urging all parties to reject violence and hate speech, and calling on authorities to protect vulnerable communities [171655].

Returnees have described a wave of alleged xenophobic attacks, including threats of violence and extortion, with one returnee reporting that attackers vowed to “shoot remaining Africans” [170756]. West Africa’s largest airline, Air Peace, has expressed sadness over the attacks, calling the situation “unfortunate and deeply concerning” and backing the evacuation of Nigerian citizens [171480].