The Democratic Republic of Congo has repatriated an initial group of 121 citizens from South Africa as violence targeting migrants continues to spread across the country, the Congolese Foreign Ministry said.
South Africa has witnessed weeks of anti-migrant protests and unrest, particularly targeting undocumented foreigners, prompting tens of thousands of people to leave the country.
According to an AFP tally, at least 150,000 foreign nationals from several African countries — including Ghana, Nigeria, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda and Zimbabwe — have departed South Africa in recent weeks.
The Congolese Foreign Ministry said in a statement that 121 citizens, including women and children, arrived in Kinshasa on Saturday aboard the first voluntary repatriation flight.
The ministry said the operation followed a wave of xenophobic violence that began in early May.
South Africa, the continent’s largest economy, has long attracted African workers, both documented and undocumented, seeking employment and better economic opportunities.
However, the country has repeatedly experienced outbreaks of violence against foreign nationals. In 2008, similar unrest left dozens of migrants dead and forced thousands more from their homes.
South Africa’s statistics agency estimates that around three million foreign nationals live in the country, accounting for approximately 5.1 percent of the population.
Police arrested 69 people on Thursday after an anti-migrant demonstration in the south of the country descended into violence and looting.
Nigeria and Ghana on Saturday condemned the continuing attacks on migrants and called for the issue of anti-African xenophobia to be placed on the agenda of the next African Union summit.