South Africa's response to xenophobia is under fire
Key takeaways
- South Africa's government condemns xenophobic violence when it erupts, but critics say prevention is weak, arrests are limited, and political rhetoric sometimes fuels tensions instead of easing them.
- South Africa has faced repeated outbreaks of violence targeting migrants from Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Somalia, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Ghana and Zambia.
- More than 60 people were killed in anti-immigrant riots in 2008, while similar unrest resurfaced in 2015 and 2016.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
South Africa's government condemns xenophobic violence when it erupts, but critics say prevention is weak, arrests are limited, and political rhetoric sometimes fuels tensions instead of easing them.
https://p.dw.com/p/5ECOLSouth Africa has experienced repeated waves of xenophobic violence over the past two decades (FILE: April 17, 2015]Image: Kim Ludbrook/dpa/picture alliance Advertisement As attacks on migrants resurface in parts of South Africa, critics are questioning whether the government's response to xenophobia is working.
South Africa has faced repeated outbreaks of violence targeting migrants from Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Somalia, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Ghana and Zambia. Earlier this month, Nigeria summoned South Africa's acting high commissioner, citing the growing anti-African migrant protests.