US Issues Durban safety alert after foreign nationals targeted in looting and violence
The tensions in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) come amid months of sustained xenophobic attacks targeting African immigrants.
The United States Consulate in Durban has issued a safety alert due to reports of looting and violence perpetrated against foreign nationals in the city's central business district. The situation escalated on Wednesday, with vehicles presumed to belong to foreigners being targeted with stones and shops owned by them being looted.
The consulate has advised U.S. government personnel to be extremely cautious, avoid crowds and demonstrations, remain vigilant, monitor local media for updates, review personal security plans, and contact the South African Police Service or emergency services in case of any danger. The tensions in KwaZulu-Natal stem from a series of anti-immigrant protests that have been taking place for months, targeting African immigrants in South Africa.
These demonstrations have reached a point where they required police intervention, as demonstrators openly threatened the safety of foreign nationals and their property. One such group, March and March, had set a deadline of June 30 for undocumented foreigners to leave the country. In June, President Cyril Ramaphosa reiterated that "South Africans are not xenophobic" during a call for peaceful coexistence and increased economic cooperation across the continent.
He also invited Kenyan President William Ruto to South Africa, praising Kenya as a valuable partner in regional development and unity.
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