Malawi has appealed to the international community for assistance in repatriating approximately 10,000 citizens stranded in South Africa following recent viole...
Malawi has appealed to the international community for assistance in repatriating approximately 10,000 citizens stranded in South Africa following recent violence and xenophobic threats.
According to statements issued by the Office of the President and Cabinet through the Department of Disaster Management Affairs and by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, thousands of Malawians are currently in vulnerable conditions across South Africa and are seeking to return home.
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The Presidency said that as of June 13, 2026, an estimated 10,000 Malawian nationals were facing difficult circumstances in different parts of South Africa. The government said the situation has created a humanitarian challenge that requires urgent action.
In response, Malawian authorities have deployed a government task force to South Africa to facilitate the voluntary repatriation process. Authorities have also established a reception and management centre at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre to receive returning citizens.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the first phase of the Voluntary Repatriation Operation began on June 15. Eight buses carrying 645 Malawian citizens departed from South Africa as part of the exercise.
The ministry said the returnees had been sheltering at Sherwood Town Hall in Durban in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province before their departure. The group is expected to enter Malawi through the Mwanza border post on June 17.
After entering the country, the returnees will proceed to Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre, where authorities will conduct the required checks and procedures before transporting them to their respective home areas.
Malawian authorities acknowledged that the country cannot manage the humanitarian operation alone because of the large number of people requiring assistance. The government said the scale of the exercise has created significant financial, logistical and humanitarian demands.
“With around 10,000 citizens in distress awaiting repatriation, the scale and urgency of the operation have generated unprecedented financial, logistical, and humanitarian needs,” the Office of the President and Cabinet said.
The Malawian government has appealed for international solidarity to support the operation and ensure that affected citizens return home safely and with dignity. Authorities said they hope the repatriation programme will give returning citizens an opportunity for a new beginning after the recent challenges experienced in South Africa.
