Tunisian Government accused of being xenophobic

Some human rights organizations are up in arms with the Tunisian Government for being xenophobic.

Hundreds of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa have been left stranded in dire conditions in the south of Tunisia since being driven out of the port city of Sfax in the past week.

It comes against a backdrop of violence after the funeral of a 41-year-old Tunisian man who was stabbed to death in Sfax a couple of days ago following a brawl between Tunisians and migrants.

According to the Human Rights Watch (HRW), Tunisian security forces have collectively expelled several hundred Black African migrants and asylum seekers, including children and pregnant women, since July 2, 2023 to a remote, militarized buffer zone at the Tunisia-Libya border,

Those that have been driven out are of many African nationalities which include Ivorian, Cameroonian, Malian, Guinean, Chadian, Sudanese and Senegalese amongst others, according to the HRW.

“The Tunisian Government should halt collective expulsions and urgently enable humanitarian access to the African migrants and asylum seekers already expelled to a dangerous area at the Tunisia-Libya border, with little food and no medical assistance. Not only is it unconscionable to abuse people and abandon them in the desert, but collective expulsions violate international law,” said Lauren Seibert, refugee and migrant rights researcher at HRW.

In addition, Amnesty International said the United Nations Human Rights Council (OHCHR) should call on the Tunisian Government to conduct a prompt, thorough, independent, impartial and transparent investigation into a wave of anti-Black violence, including assaults and summary evictions against Black African foreign nationals, including migrants, asylum seekers and refugees, and bring to justice anyone reasonably suspected to be responsible, and provide victims with access to justice and effective remedies.

“So far, the Tunisian authorities have sought to downplay these violent attacks and even deny them altogether. Authorities should prioritize the investigation of incidents of Police violence against Black migrants, put an immediate end to forcible returns currently underway and prevent any further racially motivated attacks by gangs or State agents.

The President must stop finding scapegoats for Tunisia’s economic and political woes. The community of Black African migrants in Tunisia is now gripped by fear of assault or being arbitrarily arrested and summarily deported,” said Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s Director for the Middle East and North Africa.

However, some Tunisians have expressed solidarity with the migrants, providing food and medical help to those who have been chased from their homes.