Malawi has formally raised concerns with South Africa following reports of a fresh wave of xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals across several provinces, according to Pan African Visions. During talks in Lilongwe on Friday, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation George Chaponda informed South African High Commissioner Mavivi Myakayaka-Manzini that violence and intimidation have forced the government to activate emergency repatriation plans. While Pan African Visions reports that nearly 600 citizens are facing repatriation, other regional outlets note that over 200 Malawians have sought embassy assistance.
In response, High Commissioner Myakayaka-Manzini acknowledged the concerns and reaffirmed the strong diplomatic ties between the two nations, Pan African Visions reports. She confirmed that police officers have been deployed to affected areas to restore order. However, the South African government officially denied on Thursday that a new wave of attacks is occurring. Authorities stated that the regional alarm is being driven by fake videos and old images circulating on social media.
In international policy developments, the Malawian government has submitted a new pledge to the United Nations Global Compact for Migration, according to a May 8 update from the UN Network on Migration. Led by the Ministry of Homeland Security, the initiative aims to strengthen the country's migration management capacity by 2027. The plan includes training at least 500 frontline immigration, police, and social welfare officers in human rights-based case management and vulnerability screening.