Trouble in Tunisia

Black African migrants camp, in Tunis, Tunisia, seeking shelter and protection amidst attacks on them, March 2, 2023. © 2023 AP Photo-Hassene Dridi

It sounded like the fear-fostering fantasies of far-right fanatics in Europe.

It spoke of a “criminal plan” afoot to alter the country’s “demographic make-up” through “successive waves of irregular migration.”

But this time, the words came from Tunisian President Kais Saied – and they have sparked havoc in the country.

Following Saied’s racist, conspiracy-minded language in a speech on February 21, Tunisia has suffered a wave of attacks against Black Africans. There’s been a surge in violent assaults, robberies, and vandalism by Tunisian citizens against them.

Police are arresting Black Africans for no reason. Landlords are kicking them out, and employers are firing them.

Scores of Black African foreigners, asylum seekers, and refugees – many suddenly homeless – are now camping in front of international organizations’ offices in the hope it might be safer. Others avoid venturing outside as much as possible.

That Saied’s language was politically irresponsible is obvious. And as with other cases, notably in Europe and the US, when politicians spout this kind of racist “great replacement” conspiracy nonsense about foreigners supposedly taking over, the claims are not connected to reality.

Tunisia is a country of 12 million with a miniscule 21,000 Black Africans.

Amnesty International said President Saied was, “finding scapegoats for Tunisia’s economic and political woes.” It’s also possible he’s trying to distract public attention from his power grab, which we’ve previously discussed in this newsletter.

In any case, nothing the presidency has done since the inflammatory speech will reverse the country’s dangerous course. Authorities have not condemned the criminal assaults nor instructed security forces to protect those at risk.

Most critically, they are not pushing prosecutors to hold perpetrators accountable. Throughout the wave of assaults, the authorities have announced only one arrest.

All this will only embolden potential attackers. – Human Rights Watch