–Mossel Bay, South Africa
The Mozambican government reported that five of its citizens lost their lives in xenophobic attacks over the weekend in Mossel Bay, South Africa. The violence, which began on Friday in an informal settlement near the coastal town, about 380 kilometers east of Cape Town, is part of a wave of anti-immigrant unrest sweeping the country. Authorities in Maputo stated that around 800 Mozambican citizens were directly affected by the unrest.
In addition to the five fatalities attributed to the attacks, the Mozambican statement noted that two other citizens died in a traffic accident while trying to return home in a private vehicle. This brings the total number of Mozambican deaths related to the incidents to seven. The incidents have prompted urgent action, and approximately 300 citizens are already returning across the border on their own.
South African police have confirmed they are investigating the murders of two Mozambican men, aged 27 and 43, who died from multiple injuries sustained in an attack in the same area. While local authorities have not officially classified the deaths as xenophobic, the incidents coincide with ongoing protests demanding stricter controls on irregular immigration. Several African nations have issued security advisories for their citizens in South Africa amid rising tensions.
The unrest reflects long-standing issues related to migration in South Africa, the continent's most industrialized economy. Critics argue that undocumented immigrants overburden public services and compete for scarce jobs, sentiments that have fueled periodic outbreaks of violence in recent years. Local officials, including the mayor of Mossel Bay, have expressed concern over the loss of life, property damage, and the displacement of families.
Mozambican authorities have begun the formal repatriation of more than 500 citizens who remain refugees in the Western Cape province. The situation continues to evolve as both governments monitor the impact on regional relations and the security of migrant communities.