Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said more than 80 percent of those returned were citizens of Malawi. Authorities did not specify how many people were formally deported and how many accepted voluntary repatriation.

The campaign has been supported by several African governments, which dispatched aircraft and buses to transport their nationals home as anti-immigrant sentiment intensified in South Africa, Africa’s most industrialized economy.

Police said they had arrested 350 people on charges including public violence, intimidation and conducting unauthorized immigration checks after civilians attempted to stop suspected migrants and demand proof of their legal status.

Authorities are investigating the deaths of three migrants—two from Mozambique and one from Malawi—during the recent unrest. Nigeria has also said two of its citizens were killed in anti-immigrant protests, although South African authorities have disputed that the deaths were connected to the demonstrations.

Officials said the deportees and repatriated migrants were primarily from Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, while smaller numbers came from Nigeria, Uganda and Kenya.

President Cyril Ramaphosa last month announced measures to strengthen border security and tighten enforcement of immigration laws, acknowledging growing public concern over migration while warning citizens against taking the law into their own hands.

The measures followed increasing demonstrations by anti-migrant groups, which have alleged, without presenting evidence, that undocumented immigrants are responsible for high unemployment and crime levels in South Africa.

One of the largest protests took place on June 30, when anti-immigrant groups declared an unofficial deadline for undocumented migrants to leave the country. The government rejected the ultimatum but subsequently saw thousands of Malawian nationals gather at a temporary immigration center in Durban seeking assistance to return home.

South African officials said some migrants left voluntarily, while many others were deported after being found to be living in the country without valid documentation.

Authorities also reported that more than 20,000 migrants were processed through a temporary immigration center established in Musina, a town near South Africa’s northern border.

South Africa has long attracted migrants from neighboring countries because of its comparatively stronger economy, but migration has repeatedly fueled xenophobic tensions. Deadly attacks on foreign nationals in 2008 claimed more than 60 lives, and sporadic outbreaks of violence have continued in subsequent years.

Sabina Tadera of the Southern Africa Network for Immigrants and Refugees said many Malawians who sought repatriation held legal status in South Africa but chose to leave because they feared becoming targets of attacks.

“There is a misconception that all people on the move are undocumented,” Tadera told The Associated Press.

The latest crackdown has also strained relations between South Africa and several neighboring countries, whose governments have criticized what they describe as an increasingly hostile climate toward foreign nationals.

Laura Freeman, an independent human rights and migration consultant, said South Africa has historically attracted migrants seeking economic opportunities unavailable in their home countries, but recurring waves of xenophobic violence risk undermining that reputation.

The demonstrations, which began on Friday night and continued into the early hours of Saturday, were driven by mounting frustration over repeated power cuts during an intense summer heatwave. Protesters demanded that authorities improve electricity supplies as soaring temperatures placed additional strain on households across the city.

An AFP correspondent at the scene said hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets, with dozens throwing stones at security personnel during the unrest. Security forces responded by firing tear gas to disperse the crowd and detained more than 30 people.

The confrontations continued until early Saturday before the situation eased.

Two local health officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said more than 50 police officers were injured during the violence. The number of injured protesters remained unclear, although one official estimated that around 30 demonstrators may have been wounded.

One health official said many protesters were believed to have avoided seeking treatment at hospitals because they feared being arrested following the demonstrations.

Power shortages have long been a source of public anger in Iraq, particularly during the country’s extremely hot summer months when temperatures frequently approach or exceed 50 degrees Celsius. Demonstrations over electricity supplies have become a recurring feature of the summer season in several Iraqi cities.

Years of conflict and underinvestment have left Iraq’s electricity infrastructure struggling to meet demand despite the country’s vast energy resources. Frequent outages force many families to rely on privately operated generators to power essential appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners.

While Iraq is the second-largest oil producer within the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the country continues to depend on imported energy to help satisfy domestic electricity demand.

The latest protests underscore continuing public dissatisfaction over basic services, with electricity shortages remaining one of the most persistent domestic challenges facing Iraqi authorities during periods of extreme heat.

A Syrian security source said the explosions occurred close to the hotel where Macron was staying. The French president was not injured and continued his official program, with the Elysee Palace saying the blasts were not heard by Macron or his delegation.

According to the Syrian state news agency, 18 people were wounded in the explosions, including four police officers.

Syrian security forces said they had discovered two improvised explosive devices during field operations and had begun efforts to defuse them. The devices exploded while specialist units were preparing to dismantle them.

Preliminary findings indicated that one explosive device had been concealed inside a vehicle parked along the roadside, while the second had been placed in a trash bin. Authorities said investigations were continuing to determine the circumstances of the attack and identify those responsible.

A witness reported hearing the explosions and seeing smoke rising from the area. Security forces quickly sealed off nearby roads and imposed additional security measures around the scene, according to the security source.

The Elysee said the blasts were not audible from Macron’s presidential motorcade. A Reuters journalist traveling with the French delegation also reported hearing no explosions and observing no disruption during the president’s scheduled morning engagements.

State television later showed Macron meeting Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the Presidential Palace in Damascus, indicating that the visit proceeded as planned despite the security incident.

Macron’s trip is the first by a serving European Union head of state to Syria since forces led by Ahmed al-Sharaa overthrew former President Bashar al-Assad in 2024. The visit reflects France’s growing engagement with Syria’s new leadership as Damascus seeks international support for reconstruction and political normalization.

Since assuming power, al-Sharaa has sought to strengthen relations with Western and regional governments that had largely isolated Syria under Assad, while promoting plans to rebuild the country’s institutions after more than a decade of conflict.

Despite those diplomatic efforts, Syria continues to face significant security threats. During the civil war, multiple militant organizations, including the Islamic State group, established a presence across parts of the country.

Al-Sharaa has pledged to build an inclusive political order following the end of more than five decades of Assad family rule. However, his administration has faced continuing security challenges, including episodes of violence involving pro-government forces and members of religious and ethnic minority communities that resulted in hundreds of deaths last year.

The assault took place before dawn in Ziarat district, where gunmen attacked a remote police post, triggering a prolonged exchange of fire. The incident underscores persistent security challenges in Balochistan, where separatist insurgents and Islamist militant groups have intensified attacks on security personnel and state institutions in recent years.

Provincial government spokesperson Shahid Rind said a coordinated clearance operation involving the military, the Frontier Corps, Balochistan Police, the Counterterrorism Department, the Special Operations Wing and the Anti-Terrorism Force was launched following the assault.

According to Rind, security forces killed 15 militants during the operation and regained control of the area. He said the nine police officers killed included the station house officers of the Mangi and Kawas police stations, making it one of the deadliest attacks on the provincial police force in recent months.

Rind said eight police personnel who had been abducted during the attack later reached the Kach police station safely, while another constable was rescued during the security operation.

He said the authorities would continue intelligence-based operations across the province, adding that there would be no safe haven for militants seeking to challenge the authority of the state.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack in a statement issued by his office, paying tribute to the police officers killed in the line of duty and expressing condolences to their families.

Sharif said the attack demonstrated that those responsible were opposed to peace, development and prosperity in Balochistan. He reiterated the government’s commitment to continuing operations against militant groups until they were eliminated and said no one would be allowed to undermine stability in the province.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the assault.

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by area and rich in natural resources, has long faced an insurgency led by separatist groups seeking greater autonomy or independence. The province has also witnessed attacks by Islamist militant organizations, making it one of the country’s most volatile regions.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused India of supporting militant groups operating in Balochistan, an allegation New Delhi has consistently denied.

The latest attack follows a series of deadly assaults targeting security forces and civilians in the province, reflecting the continuing challenge faced by Pakistani authorities in containing militancy despite ongoing counterterrorism operations.

The violence erupted inside the prison, although authorities did not immediately disclose what triggered the confrontation or identify the victims.

The injured were taken for medical treatment, a hospital source told Reuters, while security authorities responded to the unrest at the prison.

Police officials did not immediately provide further details on the circumstances surrounding the incident or whether the situation had been fully brought under control.

The prison violence ranks among the deadliest incidents in a Sri Lankan correctional facility in recent years. Authorities had yet to announce whether an investigation had been launched into the clashes.

Further official information on the identities of those killed and injured, as well as the cause of the violence, was not immediately available.

The protests are being organized by families of victims and civil society groups seeking justice and accountability for more than 60 people who were killed during demonstrations that culminated in protesters storming the Kenyan Parliament in 2024.

Authorities blocked major highways leading into Nairobi, while Parliament remained heavily barricaded and many businesses stayed closed amid heightened security concerns.

President William Ruto recently stated that citizens would be allowed to exercise their right to protest, but emphasized that the government also has a responsibility to protect public order, ensure schools remain open and allow economic activities to continue.

Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said police would provide security and escort peaceful demonstrators, but warned that criminal elements attempting to exploit the protests would face firm action.

The planned demonstrations have received support from opposition leaders, who are demanding greater transparency in the government’s compensation program for victims of the 2024 unrest.

Many affected families say justice has been slow. Edith Wanjiku, whose 19-year-old son Ibrahim Kamau was fatally shot during the protests, said her family has yet to receive compensation despite completing all required documentation.

According to families of victims, only a small number of affected households have received compensation so far, raising questions about the selection process and the pace of implementation.

The June 2024 protests were triggered by widespread opposition to a proposed finance bill that sought to increase taxes amid rising living costs. Thousands of mainly young protesters took to the streets, and security forces opened fire after demonstrators breached Parliament grounds, resulting in dozens of deaths.

President Ruto has described the compensation initiative as an acknowledgment of harm suffered by victims and their families, while maintaining that the payments should not be interpreted as an admission of government liability.

Authorities remain on high alert as demonstrators prepare to gather across Nairobi, with concerns over potential unrest and disruptions in the city.

Supporters of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a movement calling for economic and governance reforms, have continued protests despite being banned under anti-terrorism laws last week.
Officials initially reported seven deaths on Monday, including three civilians and four police officers, with dozens of people wounded. The latest count showed the number of fatalities had increased to 20.

Local government higher education minister Malik Zafar told AFP that clashes in his constituency of Kotli had resulted in seven deaths during the week.
Commissioner Sardar Waheed, the senior civilian official in Rawalakot, said 12 people had been killed, including four police officers.

A senior police official in Mirpur, Khurram Iqbal, said one protester died during clashes with police on Wednesday.

Several shops in Muzaffarabad have remained closed as businesses joined calls for a strike in support of the JAAC, while mobile internet services have been largely unavailable, according to an AFP journalist in the area.
JAAC members have rejected the designation of the group as a terrorist organisation, describing the move as suppression and saying their protests are aimed at securing economic and political rights.

The latest unrest follows violent clashes in the Himalayan region in September, when nine people were confirmed killed during protests led by the JAAC.

Kashmir is claimed in full by both India and Pakistan but has been divided between the two countries since the end of British rule. The territory remains highly sensitive, with decades of tensions and conflicts between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Most of those displaced are from Malawi and Mozambique. Many said they spent nights hiding in nearby mountains and bushland before seeking shelter in community centers in towns including Gansbaai, Kleinmond and Stanford.

The unrest follows weeks of protests against undocumented migrants that escalated into violence over the weekend. In Mossel Bay, 55 shacks were burned, while authorities reported the deaths of Mozambican nationals amid the tensions.

Local officials said more than 500 people fled their homes in the Gansbaai area alone. Witnesses alleged that groups carrying sticks, whips and other weapons targeted foreign residents regardless of their immigration status.

Mozambique said five of its citizens were killed as a direct result of the attacks and reported that hundreds had already returned home. Ghana and Nigeria have also organized repatriation efforts for affected nationals.
South African authorities have deployed officials to assist displaced migrants with documentation and voluntary return arrangements as fears of further violence persist.

The blaze erupted around 1 a.m., prompting emergency rescue operations as firefighters and police evacuated students and searched the damaged dormitory for survivors, according to Capital FM radio.

Regional police commander Samuel Ndanyi said rescue teams were continuing operations at the school, while county police official Masoud Mwinyi described the incident as “distressing and saddening” as anxious parents gathered outside the campus.

Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the fire.The tragedy has renewed concerns over school safety standards in Kenya following a series of deadly boarding school fires. In 2024, 21 students died in a dormitory blaze at a primary school in neighboring Nyeri county.

In Rio de Janeiro, this urban community garden in the Manguinhos favela is the largest in Latin America: it feeds 800 families a month with affordable, pesticide-free produce.

Although violence, police raids and deadly shootings in the northern favelas of the city threaten programmes like this, our observer Yuri Lopes Cruz sees the garden as a way to reach Rio’s most vulnerable people.