Tunisian President Kais Saied has reiterated his country’s refusal to serve as a crossing point or a haven for irregular migration.
This declaration was made during his meeting with Tunisian Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar at Carthage Palace on Friday, according to a statement from the Tunisian presidency.
President Saied emphasized, “Tunisia, which treats migrants humanely, refuses to be a crossing or a settling point for irregular migrants,” reported by the Anadolu Agency.
He highlighted that “the exacerbating phenomenon was never caused by Tunisia. On the contrary, Tunisia is bearing the consequences of a global system that has led to these inhumane conditions.”
He criticized international organizations, which are supposed to support Tunisia but often limit themselves to statements or attempt to impose a fait accompli that Tunisians will never accept. Saied also expressed his country’s rejection of any foreign interference in its internal affairs.
According to Italian media, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is scheduled to visit Tunisia on April 17, with the migration issue from Tunisia to the Italian coasts being a primary concern of the visit.
Recently, Tunisia has seen a notable increase in migration rates to Europe, particularly towards the Italian coast, amid ongoing economic and political crises in the country and the region.
Tunisian authorities report weekly on thwarting migration attempts to European shores and apprehending hundreds of migrants from Tunisia or other African countries.
In September 2023, the European Commission announced an allocation of €127 million in aid to Tunisia, as part of the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the European Union, part of which aims to curb the influx of migrants.
