Tunisia, with 12 million inhabitants, has more than 21,000 nationals from sub-Saharan African countries, most of them in an irregular situation.
The African Union condemned the Tunisian president’s remarks on migrants from sub-Saharan Africa and called on its member states to “refrain from any hate speech of a racist nature, likely to harm people”.
President Kais Saied on Tuesday advocated “urgent measures” against the illegal immigration of nationals of sub-Saharan African countries, saying that their presence in Tunisia was a source of “violence, crimes and unacceptable acts”, remarks denounced by NGOs.
During a meeting, he also made very harsh remarks about the arrival of “hordes of illegal immigrants” and insisted on “the need to quickly put an end” to this immigration.
In a statement on Friday, the chairperson of the African Union commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, “strongly condemns the shocking statements made by the Tunisian authorities against fellow Africans, which go against the letter and the spirit of our Organization and our founding principles”.
It “reminds all countries, in particular Member States of the African Union, that they must honor their obligations under international law (…), namely to treat all migrants with dignity, ‘wherever they come from, refrain from hate speech of a racist nature, likely to harm people, and give priority to their safety and their fundamental rights”.
Moussa Faki Mahamat reiterates “the commission’s commitment to support the Tunisian authorities in resolving migration issues in order to make migration safe, dignified and regular”.
In another press release on Friday, the Embassy of Mali in Tunisia said it was following “with the greatest concern the situation of Malians” in the country. Referring to “very worrying moments”, she invited her nationals “to calm and be vigilant” and asked “for those who wish to register for a voluntary return”.
The speech of Mr. Saied, who concentrates all powers after suspending parliament in July 2021 and dismissing the government, came as the country is going through a serious economic crisis marked by recurring shortages of basic products, amid tensions. policies.
According to official figures quoted by the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES), Tunisia, a country of some 12 million inhabitants, has more than 21,000 nationals from sub-Saharan African countries, most of them in an irregular situation.
