Buses have begun rolling across the border as Malawi joins a group of African nations moving to bring their citizens home from South Africa, following reports of violence targeting migrants in the country.
The repatriations come amid growing concerns over the safety of foreign nationals living and working in South Africa. Malawi is among the governments that have taken action to transport their people out amid the unrest.
Details on the exact number of Malawians repatriated and the specific incidents that triggered the response remain limited, but the move signals how seriously regional governments are treating the situation on the ground.
For the thousands of Malawians who have built their lives across the border, the journey home raises hard questions about what comes next.
Originally published by BBC Africa.