Update: As xenophobic attacks escalate in South Africa, over 2,449 Malawians have fled the country and returned home, reports Nyasa Times. Building on previous repatriation operations and safety alerts, immigration officials recorded 1,672 returnees at the Dedza Border between May 1 and May 17 alone. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services has directly linked the recent surge in arrivals to the renewed wave of anti-foreigner violence in the host nation.
In regional developments, the Southern African Development Community announced that the African Union Commission has ranked the bloc as the top-performing regional economic community in its 5th CAADP Biennial Review. According to the official SADC release, the bloc scored 5.77 out of 10. Malawi was highlighted alongside Mauritius, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe as member states that scored above the continental benchmark of five out of ten. The high score reflects the country's continued investments in agricultural production and food security planning.