Ethiopia Raises Alarm Over Attacks on Nationals in South Africa

Mintesinot Niggusie

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged South Africa to guarantee the safety of Ethiopian citizens amid renewed concerns over violence targeting foreign nationals in several parts of the country.

The ministry said the appeal follows recent incidents involving Ethiopian nationals, prompting diplomatic engagement with Pretoria over protection measures and accountability.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nebiat Getachew said Ethiopians in South Africa have repeatedly been exposed to violence during recurring outbreaks of hostility against migrants, calling for stronger safeguards from host authorities.

He said Ethiopia has formally requested that South African authorities ensure the security of its citizens, alongside earlier advisories issued by the Ethiopian embassy in Pretoria urging nationals to exercise caution and remain alert.

The embassy said it had confirmed cases of killings and physical assaults against Ethiopian citizens following recent protests by groups opposing foreign migrants. In the latest incidents reported in Johannesburg, at least five Ethiopian nationals were killed in suspected targeted shootings, according to diplomatic and local accounts.

South Africa has in recent weeks seen renewed episodes of xenophobic violence and public demonstrations in some urban centres, with reports of attacks on migrants and damage to foreign-owned businesses in areas including Johannesburg, Pretoria and parts of KwaZulu-Natal.

Authorities in South Africa have acknowledged concerns over the incidents and said security operations are being reinforced, including efforts to prevent further violence and pursue those responsible.

The Ethiopian embassy reiterated its call for perpetrators of killings and injuries to be brought before the law without delay and for updates on investigations to be shared with Ethiopian authorities.

It also said the recurring violence is affecting the economic activities and social wellbeing of Ethiopian migrants in South Africa, where immigration remains a politically sensitive issue shaped by unemployment pressures and strains on public services.