The Malawian government has repatriated 645 of its nationals from South Africa following rising concerns over xenophobic violence and anti-immigrant tensions in parts of the country.
According to Malawi’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, eight buses carrying the returnees departed Durban on Monday.
The group had been sheltering at a temporary facility in Sydenham, Durban, after fleeing reported threats and intimidation linked to anti-foreigner unrest.
Many of those evacuated are women and children. They are expected to arrive in Malawi through the Mwanza Border Post around 17 June before being processed further at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
Officials said this latest evacuation follows an earlier return of about 150 Malawian nationals from South Africa’s Western Cape region earlier in the month.
Authorities estimate that thousands more Malawians, possibly between 6,000 and 10,000 in Durban alone remain displaced and are still seeking assistance to return home.
The repatriation comes amid growing concerns over anti-immigrant sentiment in some parts of South Africa, driven by economic pressure, unemployment, and the activities of vigilante groups issuing deadlines for undocumented migrants to leave the country.
Similar evacuation efforts have been reported among other African nations, including Mozambique, Ghana, and Nigeria, as regional governments respond to the impact of rising tensions on their citizens abroad.
