Africa-Press – Ghana. The Ghanaian foreign minister announced on a social media platform that Ghana will evacuate 300 citizens from South Africa following a wave of anti-foreigner attacks targeting migrants from other sub-Saharan African countries.
The foreign minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, stated that citizens had registered with the Ghanaian High Commission to request assistance. Some South Africans are protesting against illegal immigration from other sub-Saharan African countries.
South African authorities have stated that illegal immigration is a problem, condemned the violence, and pledged in April to address the anti-foreigner attacks. Ghana has protested against videos of violent incidents that circulated on social media and promised to protect its citizens both domestically and abroad.
Earlier this month, Accra submitted a request to the African Union to include this issue on the agenda of the upcoming coordination meeting scheduled for June 14 in Egypt.
Other African countries, including Kenya, Malawi, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe, have warned their citizens in South Africa to exercise caution and stay at home amid attacks targeting foreigners. Nigeria announced that at least 130 citizens have requested to be flown back to their country. Last week, South African authorities denied that any attacks had occurred, asserting that widely circulated videos were fake.
On Monday, the South African president stated that “the recent protests and criminal acts directed against foreigners” do not reflect government policy, describing them as “individual criminal acts.” He added that South Africa “will regulate immigration, secure its borders, and enforce its laws.”
According to official statistics, South Africa is home to over three million foreigners, which is about 5% of the population, but it is believed that there are many more undocumented individuals. Xenophobia has long been a problem in the country, accompanied by sporadic incidents of violent assaults.
