Exodus after presidential speech: “Tunisia has become an open-air prison”

Tunisian President Saied fueled racist violence with a speech against immigrants from other African countries. Several African countries are now bringing back their citizens from Tunisia.

They just want to get away, out of Tunisia. In the past few days, numerous people from countries such as Guinea, Mali and the Ivory Coast have boarded a plane in Tunis heading home. Their embassies had organized return flights, and the lines of people with applications to leave the country were long.

The reason is a speech by Tunisia’s President Kais Saied at the end of February. In it he called for action to be taken against illegal immigration by people from sub-Saharan Africa. Without evidence, he claimed that “a criminal plot” was underway “to change Tunisia’s demographic composition”. According to the head of state, “hordes of illegal immigrants” are responsible for “violence, crime and unacceptable acts” in Tunisia.

violence after the speech

What followed the president’s statements was a demonstration against racism and fascism, but also violence against migrants, complains Ange Séri Soka from an association for people from the Ivory Coast. He says his countrymen cannot protect themselves from attacks in Tunisia. “If you don’t have a residence permit, you have no rights, and with that comes abuse of power. There are attacks, you can’t go to the police station. Tunisia has become an open-air prison for us.”

The situation in Tunisia has also deteriorated noticeably for blacks with residence permits, reports Ould Saleck Bachir, president of the Malian student association. The students lived in precarious circumstances and were often no longer able to apply for residence permits. “There are arrests, aggression and threats from the population. For example, we had a Malian with us who had his residence permit and his student ID card. Nevertheless, he was arrested by the police and jailed.”

Critics: Saied wants to distract from problems

The United Nations reacted with sharp criticism to Saied’s speech, and the World Bank suspended negotiations on a new agreement with Tunisia. After representatives of the African Union criticized Saied for his statements, he rejected the accusations of racism. He is proud to be African and for him all Africans are brothers.

His critics accuse him of only wanting to distract attention from economic and social problems with his statements against black migrants. Tunisia is in a severe economic crisis, and national bankruptcy is imminent. Since the originally democratically elected Saied has usurped more and more power, he has ruled in an increasingly authoritarian manner. Most recently, he had taken increasingly vehement action against critics and members of the opposition.

Flights should continue

One of those who has already left Tunisia is the student Abramane Doumbia from Ivory Coast. He is relieved to be back, he told French news agency AFP after arriving in the capital, Abidjan. He is looking forward to his family, but above all he is happy to be safe again. “Personally, I didn’t go out anymore, I didn’t go to school anymore, I was locked at home,” he reports. “It already makes me happy to see people like me here.” He thanks the state that he could come back.

According to Ivorian Foreign Minister Kandia Camara, 1,300 citizens of the country have volunteered to leave Tunisia. Several African countries have announced that there will continue to be flights for returnees – until everyone who wants to has left Tunisia.