THE South African government said on Wednesday that it is pushing for Africa-wide talks on migration while seeking to manage the fallout over anti-immigration protests that have forced many migrants to leave the country.

The row has raised tensions between South Africa and other African nations.

South Africa’s International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola said on Wednesday that the talks should address factors causing irregular migration in various areas, including north Africa.

Mr Lamola said his government is seeking an Africa-wide discussion on the migration crisis, which has included people illegally entering South Africa and a chaotic crossing of thousands of migrants from Morocco into the Spanish territory of Ceuta last week that left more than 80 people dead.

South Africa wants to approach the migration issue with a focus on the “push-pull factors” resulting in people seeking to migrate, said Mr Lamola.

The country has faced a backlash over protests calling for the deportation of migrants who are in the country illegally and reported violent attacks against migrants. 

But South African officials believe wider migration talks among all African nations could address the broader causes of the migration crisis throughout the continent.

The 55-member African Union rejected a proposal last week by Ghana to add South Africa’s migration tensions to the agenda of the bloc’s next co-ordination meeting in October. 

South Africa opposed the idea, protesting it would be singled out without addressing the broader crisis.

Anti-immigration groups in South Africa have called for the deportation of migrants who are in the country illegally. 

The groups have vowed to continue protesting every Thursday to press the government to accelerate deportation, enforce immigration laws and tighten security at borders.

Some migrants claimed to have been violently attacked by protesters.

At least 68,000 people were repatriated from South Africa between June and July, according to the government.