The South African president promises a crackdown on the perpetrators of xenophobic violence.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa promised on Sunday a firm response to groups accused of fueling xenophobic violence that is shaking several regions of the country and raising concerns in several African states.

In a televised address, the head of state denounced those who exploit concerns related to illegal immigration to serve political, personal or criminal interests.

"We will act against the forces that exploit our people's concerns about illegal immigration to advance their own political, personal and criminal agendas," Ramaphosa said, without specifying what measures would be implemented.

For several weeks, anti-immigrant demonstrations have been multiplying in certain areas of South Africa. Some of these mobilizations have degenerated into violence, targeting in particular nationals of other African countries residing in the country.

Faced with the deteriorating situation, several African governments have launched repatriation operations for their citizens. Ghana, Nigeria, Malawi, and Mozambique have announced the return of some of their nationals stranded by the unrest.

The Mozambican government indicated that five of its citizens had lost their lives in the violence, highlighting the seriousness of the crisis.

These events revive concerns about recurring immigration-related tensions in South Africa, a country that has attracted workers and migrants from across southern Africa for decades because of its more developed economy.

South African authorities are now under pressure to restore order, protect foreign communities and avoid a deterioration in diplomatic relations with neighboring countries.

Cyril Ramaphosa's stance also aims to preserve South Africa's international image, which has been regularly criticized during previous waves of xenophobic violence that have struck the country in recent years.