Senegalese nationals repatriated from South Africa amid rising tensions

Fifty Senegalese nationals are scheduled to arrive at Blaise Diagne International Airport in Dakar this Monday at 5:00 PM following their repatriation from South Africa. This return occurs amid escalating xenophobic tensions and anti-migrant sentiment targeting African communities in South Africa.

Reports indicate that the security situation in South African cities like Johannesburg and Durban has become increasingly precarious, with some migrants reporting the need to stay indoors to avoid aggression. The repatriation follows intensified anti-immigration movements and threats directed at foreign nationals.

Senegalese authorities have organized a reception protocol to provide humanitarian, administrative, and security support to the returnees. The operation is being coordinated by the Bureau d’Accueil, d’Orientation et de Suivi (BAOS), under the Direction de l’Assistance et de la Promotion des Sénégalais de l’Extérieur (DAPSE), in collaboration with the National Committee for the Management of Refugees, Repatriates, and Displaced Persons (CNRRPD).