African migrants flee South Africa due to government crackdown and violent protests. Over 178,000 have left in recent months.

More than 178,000 African migrants have left South Africa in recent months, driven by a government crackdown on undocumented migration and violent anti-immigration protests. The departures represent one of the most significant migrant exoduses from Africa’s most industrialized economy in years. The figures come from authorities in the migrants’ home countries.

Mass migration

More than 115,000 Zimbabweans have returned home since late May, according to the Zimbabwean government, while Malawi says more than 56,000 of its citizens have returned. Nigeria, Ghana, Mozambique and Lesotho have each reported the return of more than 1,000 citizens from South Africa. The returns include people deported by South African authorities as well as migrants who voluntarily returned through repatriation programs offered by South Africa or their home countries.

Protests and violence

Groups have held a series of protests against illegal migration this year, culminating in nationwide demonstrations June 30, which the groups said was a 'deadline' for migrants in the country illegally to leave. The protests have been accompanied by door-to-door campaigns by mobs, with rights groups saying migrants have been threatened and attacked, and their homes or businesses burned. Mozambique’s government said 11 Mozambicans have been killed in attacks in South Africa, while Nigeria and Ghana also said some of their citizens were killed.

International response

The violence has led to unusual diplomatic tensions between South Africa and other African nations, which have accused it of xenophobia. Ghana pushed for the issue of what it alleged were South Africa’s anti-migrant and xenophobic policies to be placed on the agenda of an African Union meeting in October. UNICEF and the U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed deep concern about the fate of children caught up in the returns, facing heightened risks of violence, exploitation, family separation and psychological distress.