The Tunisian presidency announced several measures in favor of sub-Saharan migrants or those who want to return to their country, ten days after a speech which caused panic among the latter.
The damage is done. From the speech of Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed against sub-Saharan migrants, the Head of State going so far as to accuse them of being the source of "violence, crimes and unacceptable acts", several countries have asked their nationals, as a first step, to think about a return volunteer in their country of origin, before beginning the repatriations. From Guinea to Mali, via Côte d'Ivoire, hundreds of sub-Saharan students have returned to their country.
Since February 21, Sub-Saharans have been living with fear in their stomachs. The Tunisian president is now in the spotlight. While the World Bank has announced the suspension of its partnership framework with Tunisia, there is no doubt that other sanctions should be pronounced against the North African country.
If sources indicated that, on the side of the palace of Carthage, the president regretted his exit on the subject, the Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nabil Ammar, affirmed that the Tunisian president had not "affected anyone" and that he was "no apology at all". "The Tunisian authorities are within their right to warn when there are growing flows of illegal immigrants with all the consequences that this may entail," added the minister.
Sub-Saharans, many of them students, took the words of the head of state as an ultimatum. But also like the launch of a witch hunt. With racism entrenched in Tunisia, black people have not felt safe in recent days. And the fact that Carthage does not qualify its remarks was badly perceived.
From racism… to anti-racism!
This Sunday, March 5, the presidency finally decided to speak. And to announce measures in favor of sub-Saharans. Initially, the Tunisian presidency “expresses its astonishment at this campaign accusing it of alleged racism”.
Carthage also proposes several measures such as the issuance of one-year residence permits for students from African countries, the extension of the period of residence from three to six months, assistance with voluntary departures and exemption from payment of late penalties for migrants who have exceeded the stay limit, in the context of voluntary return.
In reality, if the text denounces racism, human trafficking and the exploitation of irregular migrants, these proposals remain late. They respond to the emergency affecting illegal sub-Saharans applying for voluntary return. Because they have to pay significant penalties before they can go through customs. However, the speech of Kaïs Saïed precipitated these departures, without any adjustment of these penalties being planned.
For nearly two weeks, however, the deafening silence of Carthage has been widely noticed. Difficult today to explain after such a speech by President Saïed that measures in favor of sub-Saharan migrants are announced. If not to save face for a country whose economy depends, in part, on Africa.