Maputo, June 23, 2026 (Lusa) - Mozambique's government acknowledged challenges on Tuesday relating to the repatriation and reintegration of Mozambican citizens who have been victims of xenophobia in neighbouring South Africa, where nine Mozambicans have been killed and 738 repatriated as a result of the attacks.
“It has been noted that challenges remain in the repatriation and reintegration of citizens, particularly regarding documentation, the transport of personal belongings and access to livelihoods upon their return to the country,” the cabinet spokesperson, Salim Valá, said at the end of a meeting in Maputo.
According to Valá, the information was provided by the multi-sectoral team that had been in South Africa to monitor the situation of Mozambicans. He added that the government had completed the repatriation of the bodies of seven nationals who died during the incidents in Mossel Bay, in this latest wave of xenophobic attacks.
Valá stated that, to date, 738 Mozambican citizens have been repatriated, of whom 573 are men, and 165 are women; of this total, 393 are from Gaza province, 162 from Maputo province, 119 from Inhambane province, 33 from Maputo city, 30 from Manica province and one from Sofala province.
“The cabinet has given instructions to ensure that the situation in South Africa continues to be monitored, with a view to responding swiftly to the concerns of Mozambicans. It has also instructed the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and of Labour, Gender and Social Action to step up coordination with the South African government regarding this issue of xenophobia”, he said.
Mozambique's government had previously said that, upon arrival at the Ressano Garcia border in Maputo province, Mozambicans undergoing forced repatriation to the country receive two food ‘kits’, one for immediate use and the other for the first 10 days of resettlement in their home regions, primarily in the southern provinces.
Xenophobic tensions are a recurring problem in South Africa. Numerous immigrant communities have been repatriated by their own countries, such as Mozambique and Nigeria, and South Africa has faced international criticism for xenophobia.
The most serious incidents in recent times occurred in late 2019, with 18 foreigners killed, according to figures from Human Rights Watch.
South African anti-immigration protesters have given all foreign nationals until 30 June to leave the country, and the South African government has in recent days announced restrictions on immigration policies and a stepped-up security effort as the deadline approaches.
The number of repatriated nationals is rising after more than 800 residents of the town of Mossel Bay, in South Africa’s Western Cape Province, were targeted in xenophobic attacks on 29 May, which have claimed the lives of nine Mozambicans.
Mozambique has around 300,000 citizens living in South Africa. The Presidency stated in a press release that “thousands” have already returned to the country in the face of the violence.
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