Liberia, July 16 -- The arrival of 17 Liberians from South Africa this week was more than a routine repatriation exercise. It was a stark reminder of the complex realities facing thousands of African migrants who leave home in search of opportunity, only to find themselves trapped between economic hardship, social exclusion, and periodic outbreaks of xenophobic violence.

As the returnees stepped off an Ethiopian Airlines flight at Roberts International Airport on Wednesday, they carried more than luggage. They brought home stories of fear, uncertainty, lost investments, and shattered dreams. Their return also presents Liberia with a challenge that extends beyond the immediate task of bringing citizens home: how to reintegrate returnees ...