The first group of Ugandans being repatriated from South Africa has departed O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, ending an anxious wait after their scheduled flight experienced a delay.
Their departure marks the beginning of Uganda's emergency voluntary repatriation exercise launched in response to growing anti-migrant protests and xenophobic tensions that have unsettled foreign nationals living and working in South Africa.
The Ugandan government recently announced plans to assist citizens wishing to return home after concerns over their safety intensified. Hundreds of Ugandans are understood to have registered for the evacuation programme as fears mounted following weeks of demonstrations targeting undocumented migrants in several South African cities.
Scenes at Johannesburg's busiest airport showed passengers preparing for the journey home after what many described as days of uncertainty. The departure comes as several African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi and Mozambique, have also organized repatriation efforts for their nationals amid the worsening situation.
South Africa has witnessed weeks of heightened anti-immigration demonstrations, with vigilante groups demanding the removal of undocumented foreign nationals. Although South African authorities have condemned xenophobic violence and deployed additional security forces, reports indicate that many documented migrants have also faced intimidation, harassment and attacks.
Ugandan authorities continue to coordinate the evacuation exercise and are expected to facilitate the return of additional groups in the coming days as more citizens seek to leave the country.
The repatriation underscores the growing humanitarian concerns surrounding the anti-migrant unrest, with governments across the region urging calm while working to ensure the safety of their citizens abroad.