African Union condemns Tunisia’s ‘hate speech’ against migrants

President Kais Saied claimed migration from sub-Saharan Africa was geared toward altering his nation’s demographic make-up.

Folks collect exterior the Ivory Coast embassy in Tunis for his or her repatriation to Abidjan, on February 24, 2023 [Fethi Belaid/AFP]

The African Union (AU) has criticised Tunisia and urged it to keep away from “racialised hate speech” following President Kais Saied’s feedback directed at migrants from elsewhere on the continent.

Saied ordered the expulsion of undocumented migrants from Tunisia on Tuesday, saying immigration was a plot geared toward altering his nation’s demographic composition. Native rights activists condemned his feedback, calling them “racist”.

In an announcement issued late on Friday, the AU Fee mentioned it had known as Tunisia’s consultant for an pressing assembly to register “deep shock and concern on the type and substance” of the remarks on behalf of the continent-wide bloc.

“The Chairperson of the African Union Fee H. E. Moussa Faki Mahamat strongly condemns the stunning assertion issued by Tunisian authorities focusing on fellow Africans which go towards the letter and the spirit of our Group and founding ideas,” learn the assertion.

The AU reminded Tunisia of its obligation throughout the 55-member bloc. Faki mentioned AU member states had been obligated “to deal with all migrants with dignity, wherever they arrive from, chorus from racialised hate speech that might deliver individuals to hurt, and prioritise their security and human rights”.

The Chairperson of the African Union Fee @AUC_MoussaFaki strongly condemns the racial statements on fellow Africans in #Tunisia.https://t.co/9joF5kzhaYpic.twitter.com/7DQPkEYLkg

— African Union (@_AfricanUnion) February 25, 2023

Tunisia’s international ministry mentioned on Saturday it was shocked by the AU assertion and rejected what it known as “baseless accusations” that it mentioned misunderstood the federal government’s place.

Saied, who has seized nearly whole energy since a dramatic July 2021 transfer towards parliament, urged his nationwide safety council on Tuesday to take “pressing measures” to deal with irregular migration.

“The undeclared aim of the successive waves of unlawful immigration is to think about Tunisia a purely African nation that has no affiliation to the Arab and Islamic nations,” he mentioned.

Saied’s feedback had been praised by the French far-right politician Eric Zemmour. This comes as his marketing campaign of arrests has brought on widespread worry amongst sub-Saharan Africans in addition to Black Tunisians.

Tunisian rights teams have accused Saied of hate speech.

“It's a racist method identical to the campaigns in Europe,” Romdhane Ben Amor, spokesperson for the Tunisian Discussion board for Financial and Social Rights (FTDES), advised Reuters information company on Tuesday. “The presidential marketing campaign goals to create an imaginary enemy for Tunisians to distract them from their primary issues.”

The president mentioned these accusing him of racism “need division and discord and search to break our relationships with our brothers”.

Saied mentioned he was not racist and that migrants dwelling in Tunisia legally had nothing to worry.

On Saturday, rights teams deliberate to carry an indication to protest towards Saied’s feedback and the clampdown on migrants and refugees.

In response to official figures quoted by the FTDES, Tunisia, which has a inhabitants of some 12 million, is house to greater than 21,000 residents from sub-Saharan African international locations.