About 300 Batswana trapped in Middle East crisis
Mbongeni Mguni | Wednesday March 4, 2026 10:01
Air travel has been frozen in the Middle East since Saturday, effectively trapping Batswana and others in a conflict zone, where the parties involved continue to ratchet up the rhetoric and hardened positions.
US and Israeli air forces killed long-reigning Iranian leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on the first day of the bombing campaign, as well as other senior officials, following months of escalating tensions over the alleged build-up of nuclear capability by Iran.
Iran responded to the attacks by launching its own missiles at Israel as well as US bases in neighbouring countries that include the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, where government estimates at least 200 Batswana live.
Speaking on condition of anonymity yesterday, the young man said missiles and interceptors had been flying over the building he lives in since Saturday at midday. The young man relocated to the city for employment.
“We started hearing explosions, and we were released from work and told to knock off and find shelter,” he told The Monitor. “We didn’t sleep on Saturday, and it kept going on with missiles and interceptors flying overhead, even over our building. “Our home is about ten kilometres from the airport and also ten kilometres or so from the city centre, which are both strategic targets. “One missile did drop, and it was about four to five kilometres from us.”
While the missiles quietened on Sunday afternoon, fear has set in as hostilities escalate between the countries engaged in battle. The young man told The Monitor that Batswana had formed a WhatsApp group to receive updates and provide guidance. The man’s company is also providing support, including securing medication for him.
“It’s a rollercoaster of emotions,” he said. “There was quiet from Sunday at 2pm, and we managed to rest, but today (Monday) at about 10am, there were three interceptors above our building, which shows that perhaps it was missiles headed for the airport.”
The Ministry of International Relations said it is keeping tabs on around 300 Batswana in the Middle East, most of them in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
“The ministry wishes to inform that should the situation deteriorate, the available media platforms will be employed for further guidance relating thereto,” reads a statement from the International Relations ministry. “Furthermore, Batswana are advised to avoid travelling to the affected countries and re-route their travel away from the Middle East airspace until the situation has calmed.”
Besides the physical safety of citizens in the Middle East, the outbreak of war threatens higher fuel prices and other economic threats to Africa, experts at Oxford Economics said in a research note issued on Monday.
“The immediate, near-term risks to African nations are mainly confined to upswings in global oil prices and weakening exchange rates amidst heightened demand for safe-haven assets, potentially driving short-term inflationary risks higher and prompting more cautious approaches by monetary authorities across the continent,” said senior economist, Brendon Verster.
He said if the conflict persists, oil-exporting nations, such as Nigeria, are likely to benefit from higher oil prices, whilst gold producers might also profit from stronger bullion demand and prices.
“US-aligned assets could become the focus of retaliatory strikes by Iran or its regional proxies, such as the Houthis, and religious dynamics across the continent's multi-faith regions could become more strained. “In countries such as Nigeria, for example, there is a risk that Shiite organisations may intensify protests or low-level unrest in symbolic solidarity with Iran, potentially aggravating existing sectarian fault lines,” warned Verster.
He also flagged South Africa’s delicate position.
“Washington has repeatedly voiced its frustration with Pretoria over its stance on Israel, its ties with Iran, and its alignment with BRICS. “Consequently, the US could react with punitive measures amid any sign of sympathy to the Iranian cause.”