« La peur ne nous quitte plus » : le calvaire des Sénégalais en Afrique du Sud
South Africa, particularly the province of KwaZulu-Natal, is facing a wave of xenophobic violence that is plunging foreign nationals, including the Senegalese community - estimated at between 5,000 and 10,000 people - into a climate of fear.
In Durban, shopkeeper Talla Ndiaye, who has been established for 15 years, told L'Observateur on Saturday, May 2nd: “The situation has become extremely difficult. It is now impossible to live in peace. The Zulus are attacking foreigners with stakes, machetes, and other sharp objects. Simply being identified as a foreigner is enough to put you in danger.” He explained that he had to close his shop for about ten days: “To open is to risk being attacked or having your business destroyed.”
In the Eastern Cape, Ousseynou Sy, who has been in South Africa for 20 years, describes widespread insecurity: "Whether we are Senegalese, Malian or from another country, we are all perceived as foreigners. Going out to work has become a daily risk."
For Momar Talla Fall, a former diplomat interviewed by the same source, this situation is part of a recurring phenomenon: "Every five years or so, the country experiences waves of violence against foreigners." He believes that migrants are being used as scapegoats for local economic frustrations: "Some South Africans accuse foreigners of monopolizing economic opportunities, even though this doesn't reflect reality."
Faced with this crisis, Senegalese people on the ground are organizing themselves via WhatsApp groups to share alerts and protect each other. "These networks allow us to stay informed in real time and remain united," emphasizes another source interviewed by the Groupe Futurs Médias newspaper.
While no direct attacks against Senegalese citizens have been confirmed, all speak of constant stress and deep anxiety. Expatriates are calling on South African authorities to intervene to end the violence and restore security.
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