Xenophobia: Congo Repatriates 155 Nationals from South Africa

Anatole Collinet Makosso, the Congolese Prime Minister, oversaw the arrival of passengers on the tarmac of the capital, marking the beginning of a rescue operation initiated on June 22 by the diplomatic representation of Pretoria. The security deterioration stems from an ultimatum set by South African nationalist groups for June 30, 2026, demanding the forced expulsion of foreign workers, also prompting Nigeria, Ghana, and Malawi to activate emergency evacuation plans.

The surge in violence against immigrant communities is fueled by a severe macroeconomic distress within the continent's leading industrial economy. Indicators published by the national statistics agency put the unemployment rate in South Africa at 32.7% in the first quarter of 2026, reflecting a continuous deterioration from 31.4% in the previous quarter. The number of unemployed individuals now stands at 8.137 million, up from 7.836 million in the previous quarter. The precarious situation of South African youth has turned West and Central African workers into scapegoats, affecting investments made by Congolese diaspora entrepreneurs in the provinces of Gauteng and the Cape.

The authorities in Brazzaville face the challenge of socio-economic and medical reintegration of migrants who have lost everything. The Prime Minister put the current crisis into perspective with the depth of historical ties between the two nations, recalling the substantial financial contribution of the former Organization of African Unity (OAU) via the "Africa Fund" hosted by Congo during the decades of struggle against Apartheid. Congolese diplomacy urges the authorities in Pretoria to respect multilateral conventions on migrant protection and reactivate the solidarity principles left behind by Nelson Mandela. The reintegration of repatriated individuals will require immediate national budget mobilization to compensate for capital losses and ensure adequate psychological support.

Asaba