Malawi has repatriated more than 38,000 of its citizens from South Africa following weeks of anti-migrant protests and unrest that have prompted thousands of foreign nationals to leave the country.
According to Malawi’s Department of Disaster Management, 38,094 Malawians returned home between June 7 and July 8 as part of a large-scale government-led evacuation effort. Authorities said six returnees died during the journey after falling ill.
Disaster Management Commissioner Wilson Moleni said four people died while travelling back to Malawi, while two others died shortly after crossing the border. He explained that all six had existing medical conditions but were unable to access treatment after being displaced by the unrest.
“They were being chased and moving from place to place, making it impossible to access their medicines and hospital care,” Moleni said, adding that conditions in temporary camps also contributed to the deterioration of their health.
The repatriation operation involved more than 570 buses transporting returning nationals from South Africa.
South Africa has experienced weeks of demonstrations targeting migrants, with protesters accusing foreign nationals of taking jobs and straining public resources. The unrest has resulted in several deaths, with South African police confirming that two Mozambicans, one Malawian and one Ethiopian were killed in violence linked to the protests.
The anti-migrant campaign has triggered a wider regional exodus, with citizens from Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Mozambique also returning to their home countries.
According to South Africa’s Border Management Authority, around 46,000 people passed through the Beitbridge border post between June 7 and early July, the majority of them Malawian nationals. Border Commissioner Michael Masiapato said approximately 60,000 people had either been repatriated or deported during the period.
Zimbabwe has also reported assisting nearly 21,300 citizens to return home since late May, while Uganda has repatriated about 1,100 nationals. Around 1,000 Ghanaians and 500 Nigerians have also left South Africa on evacuation flights from Johannesburg, according to border authorities.
The growing number of departures highlights mounting regional concerns over the safety of migrants in South Africa as governments continue coordinating evacuation efforts for citizens affected by the unrest.