The North African nation of Tunisia, despite having a strategic partnership agreement with the European Union that enables it to repatriate illegal immigrants back to their home countries, appears to be facing difficulties in executing this task. Many of these immigrants are adamant about staying, while human rights organizations have condemned their eviction from the country as discriminatory and abusive towards foreigners.
Najat Zamouri, Vice President of the Tunisian League for the Defence of Human Rights, commented to Sky News Arabia that Tunisia is in the midst of a real crisis. An increase in the number of irregular migrants has sparked tensions in Sfax, leading to clashes between asylum seekers and locals. Some residents have organized demonstrations, under the influence of extreme right-wing parties, demanding the deportation of these migrants.
This month, organizations concerned with refugee affairs, including Human Rights Watch, criticized the Tunisian government. Reports highlighted that approximately 600 illegal immigrants were stranded in the desert on the Libyan and Algerian borders, some without access to food and water, following their transfer from Sfax by bus.
Human Rights Watch has accused Tunisian police, military, and national guard forces of committing abuses against migrants, refugees, and African asylum seekers, including excessive use of force, arrests, mass expulsions, and theft of money and possessions.
Tunisian government actions and responses have varied. The presence of illegal migrants in Tunisia, especially in Sfax, from where migration boats can depart towards European shores, has become a source of tension between the migrants themselves, the local Tunisians, and international organizations.
Violent incidents have occurred, with South-Saharan Africans and Tunisians accusing each other of crimes. The death of Tunisian Nizar Omri in a fight with illegal migrants on July 3, and testimonies of migrants who claim some of them were killed in the border area in early July by government forces, have further escalated the situation.
Tunisian President, Kais Saied, pledged in February not to allow the influx of illegal migrants into his country, considering their influx as a conspiracy to alter the country’s demographic composition. Saied rejected international accusations of his country practicing “racism and xenophobia,” pointing out violations caused by the presence of illegal migrants in Tunisia, including their establishment of their own courts.
Saied reassured Africans residing legally in the country that they would not be mistreated. As Tunisia continues to grapple with this complex issue, the international community watches with keen interest, awaiting solutions that respect the rights of all involved.
