Key facts
- Nigeria has repatriated 268 citizens from South Africa due to rising anti-migrant sentiment.
- The flight departed Johannesburg on Thursday morning.
- Around 1,000 Nigerians have registered for repatriation.
- Migrants cite safety concerns and violence, including attacks on individuals and businesses, as reasons for leaving.
- South Africa faces an unemployment rate exceeding 30%, contributing to anti-migrant sentiment.
Nigeria has initiated the repatriation of its citizens from South Africa amid a growing wave of anti-migrant sentiment and xenophobic attacks. A flight carrying 268 Nigerians landed in Lagos on Thursday morning, departing from Johannesburg. These passengers were among approximately 1,000 individuals who have registered with the Nigerian consulate for repatriation.
Several other African nations, including Ghana, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, have already conducted similar evacuations. This comes as some campaigners have set a June 30 deadline for undocumented migrants to leave South Africa. Many migrants originally moved to South Africa after the end of white-minority rule in 1994, seeking better opportunities. However, with an unemployment rate exceeding 30%, anti-migrant feelings have intensified, leading to protests and xenophobic attacks.
Passengers shared harrowing experiences. One Nigerian, who had lived in South Africa since 1998, stated he was leaving due to unsafe conditions and the killing of fellow Nigerians. He recounted being attacked in a taxi and insulted by locals. Another returnee, a hairdresser and mother of three, described being attacked at her business premises during an earlier wave of violence, expressing fear for her children's safety.
Nigeria's Diaspora Commission stated that returnees would receive financial assistance and mobile phone credit. While official figures on recent xenophobic violence deaths are scarce, police reported two Mozambican men killed earlier this month. Mozambican authorities, however, claim a higher death toll due to xenophobia.
Nigerian officials argue that migrants, constituting less than 10% of South Africa's population, are being scapegoated for systemic failures in education, healthcare, and employment. The Nigerian Consul General noted that processing delays could lead to some individuals becoming undocumented. She urged South African authorities to take stronger action against those propagating xenophobic attacks, emphasizing the need for arrests rather than allowing perpetrators to remain free, especially with local elections approaching.
In response to the escalating situation, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced measures to combat illegal migration, including penalties for employers of undocumented workers, dedicated courts for deportations, and a biometric database. He also cautioned citizens against vigilantism.