Geneva|Forum of Horn Vision"HAPC"

Wednesday|June17,2026

The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanum Ghebreyesus, Condemned the recent wave of violence targeting foreign nationals in South Africa, which resulted in deaths and the displacement of thousands of people from their residential areas.

A scene from the anti-foreigner riots in South Africa

In a statement published via social media on Sunday, June 14, Ghebreyesus revealed that the violence claimed the lives of five Ethiopian citizens, in addition to five Mozambican citizens in the city of Mossel Bay, forcing thousands to flee their areas, without providing further details about the identity of the victims or the circumstances of the attacks.

The UN agency director noted that these events sound the alarm about the continued violence against migrants, stressing the need to address disputes and grievances through legal institutions and the rule of law, the importance of respecting humanitarian principles and stopping attacks immediately, as well as protecting civilians, especially the most vulnerable groups.

A photo showing South African citizens assaulting a foreign resident

These statements come at a time when concerns have escalated within the Ethiopian community in South Africa regarding their security situation, following a series of reports of violence and displacement in several areas.

Last week, the Ethiopian authorities sent an official delegation that included officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ethiopian Embassy in Pretoria, to hold urgent meetings with representatives of the community and local authorities. Despite the South African authorities’ confirmation of their commitment to protecting foreigners, recent events have revealed the extent of the abuses on the ground.