Ghana and African Neighbors Evacuate Thousands as South Africa Braces for June 30 Anti-Immigration Protests

Ghana's High Commission in South Africa has successfully relocated nearly 900 Ghanaian nationals to secure locations as African nations scramble to protect their citizens ahead of planned anti-immigration protests scheduled for June 30. Ambassador Benjamin Quashie, coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the President, confirmed that these individuals have registered for voluntary repatriation following a surge in xenophobic tensions across the country. This latest move follows the successful return of 938 Ghanaians in a previous exercise, with the current group being housed in safe havens under police protection while waiting for travel arrangements to be finalized.

The situation has triggered a wider regional crisis, with security forces reporting that over 25,000 foreign nationals have been repatriated in recent weeks. Uganda has announced the evacuation of 746 of its citizens, including the provision of emergency travel documents and special charter flights via Uganda Airlines at no cost to returnees, following the confirmed death of one Ugandan national in recent violence. Meanwhile, thousands of migrants from Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique are reportedly queuing at consulates in Durban and Cape Town, desperate to leave before a citizen-led ultimatum for undocumented migrants to exit the country expires.

In response to the escalating risks, Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a formal travel advisory, urging all citizens to avoid non-essential travel to South Africa. The advisory highlights the high risk of intimidation and violence against foreign African nationals during the nationwide demonstrations. Ghanaians already in South Africa are advised to remain vigilant, limit their movements, and maintain constant communication with the High Commission in Pretoria. While South African authorities have provided assurances of maintaining public order, the heavy deployment of police in protest hotspots underscores the severity of the security threat facing foreign nationals.

The current unrest is rooted in deep-seated economic frustrations within South Africa, where the national unemployment rate remains near 30%. While President Cyril Ramaphosa has publicly warned against scapegoating immigrants for domestic issues, the violence has already claimed at least four lives and led to 195 arrests since March. As the June 30 deadline approaches, the diplomatic community remains focused on ensuring the safe passage of vulnerable migrants and preventing further escalations of violence in what has become a recurring challenge for regional stability and African unity.