Overview
- Ghana’s foreign minister said Tuesday the president approved the immediate evacuation of 300 nationals from South Africa after they registered for rescue at the Pretoria mission.
- The embassy in South Africa urged Ghanaians in Durban to avoid gatherings and temporarily close shops ahead of a planned protest on Wednesday.
- South African officials rejected claims of widespread xenophobic attacks, disputing viral videos as fake and describing recent unrest as isolated crimes.
- Accra summoned South Africa’s high commissioner and asked the African Union to take up the issue, as Nigeria fielded at least 130 repatriation requests and Kenya, Malawi, Lesotho and Zimbabwe issued safety warnings.
- Pressure stems from South Africa’s high unemployment and a large migrant community, with over three million foreign-born residents and a record of violence that left 62 people dead in 2008.