Two weeks after his speech denouncing the arrival of clandestine sub-Saharan “hordes of migrants” in Tunisia, President Kaïs Saïed received, on Wednesday, March 8, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, the Bissau-Guinean Head of State and President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The purpose of this meeting at the Carthage Palace was to come back to these remarks described as “racist and hateful” by several NGOs, the opportunity for a clarification session between the two leaders.
The Tunisian head of state Kaïs Saïed initially denied any racist remarks. According to him, his speech had the sole purpose of enforcing the law concerning foreigners in an irregular situation in the country:
I am against trafficking in human beings, particularly Africans, either in Tunisia or elsewhere. But this situation cannot be interpreted by the malevolent tongues of racism. What are they talking about? They wander!
Kaïs Saïed received the support of Umaro Sissoco Embalo. The current president of ECOWAS justified his visit to Tunis with the presence of many West African nationals in the country. And for him, the words of his counterpart were misinterpreted:
I think that even the Tunisians will understand that his words have been diverted, it is not the spirit, it is not logic. I cannot believe that you, the Tunisian president, the country of Bourguiba, can be xenophobic or racist. You yourself are African…
What Kaïs Saïed continued: “ I am African and I am proud to be so. “
Finally, the Bissau-Guinean president adds that he will explain to his West African peers that these are ” misunderstandings “: this while Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, and Mali are repatriating hundreds of their nationals, exposed for two weeks to a wave of violence in Tunisia.
As President of ECOWAS, I visited President Kais Saied to inquire about the situation of sub-Saharan Africans in Tunisia. Referring to the distortion of his remarks, he assured to believe in the African values of union, welcome and respect and preserving them.
