Malawi Seeks International Help as Thousands Remain Stuck in South Africa
Malawi’s government has called on the international community to aid in the return of thousands of its nationals who are still in South Africa, amid ongoing xenophobic tensions. While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that 645 Malawian citizens have already been repatriated, officials say that roughly 7,000 people continue to wait in Durban for transport back home.
The appeal was made public in a statement that highlighted an estimated total of 10,000 Malawians who had fled South Africa since the outbreak of anti-immigrant violence earlier this year. The government said the situation in Durban has become “critical,” with many migrants lacking basic necessities while they await departure.
South African authorities have been coordinating with Malawian officials to organise flights, but logistical challenges and limited flight capacity have slowed the process. The Malawian embassy in Pretoria reported that the majority of those stranded are concentrated in informal settlements on the outskirts of Durban, where they face heightened insecurity and limited access to services.
In response, the Malawian president’s office urged regional bodies, including the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and international humanitarian agencies to provide financial and logistical support.
South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, noting that it is working with the Malawian High Commission to prioritize the most vulnerable, such as women, children, and the elderly. However, officials did not give a definitive timeline for when the remaining migrants would be able to leave.
