Exit after presidential speech: “Tunisia has become an open-air prison”

Tunisian President Said incited ethnic violence with a speech against immigrants from other African countries. Many African countries are now repatriating their citizens from Tunisia.

They want to leave Tunisia. In the past few days, many people from countries like Guinea, Mali and Ivory Coast have boarded flights to their hometowns in Tunis. Their embassies had arranged return flights, and queues of people with applications to leave the country were long.

The reason was a speech by Tunisian President Gais Said at the end of February. In it, he called for action against illegal migration of people from sub-Saharan Africa. Without proof, he said there was “a criminal conspiracy” underway to “change the demographic structure of Tunisia”. According to the head of state, “congregations of illegal immigrants” are responsible for “violence, crime and unacceptable acts” in Tunisia.

Violence after speech

A demonstration against racism and fascism following the president’s statements, but also violence against immigrants, complained Ange Séri Soka from the Association for the People of the Ivory Coast. He says his countrymen cannot protect themselves from the attacks in Tunisia. “If you don’t have a residence permit, you don’t have rights, and with that comes abuse of power. There are attacks, you can’t go to the police station. Tunisia has become an open-air prison for us.”

The number of blacks with residency permits in Tunisia has also deteriorated significantly, says Ould Saleck Bachir, head of the Malian Students Union. Students lived in dangerous conditions and often could not apply for residence permits. “There have been arrests, aggression and threats from people. For example, we had a Malian who had his residence permit and his student ID card. However, he was arrested by the police and imprisoned.”

Critics: Syed wants to distract from problems

The United Nations responded with harsh criticism to Said’s speech, and the World Bank suspended negotiations on a new agreement with Tunisia. After representatives of the African Union criticized Syed for his statements, he rejected accusations of racism. He is proud to be an African and to him all Africans are brothers.

His critics accuse him of trying to divert attention from economic and social problems with his statements against black immigrants. Tunisia is in dire economic straits, with national bankruptcy imminent. As the first democratically elected Syed has seized more and more power, he has become increasingly authoritarian. In recent times, he has taken tough measures against critics and members of the opposition.

Flights must continue

One of those who has already left Tunisia is Abramane Toumbia, a student from Mali. After arriving in the capital Bamako, he is relieved to be back, he told the French news agency AFP. He looks forward to his family, but most of all he is happy to be safe again. “Personally, I don’t go out anymore, I don’t go to school anymore, I’m locked in the house,” she reports. “It already makes me happy to see people like me here.” He thanked the government for his return.

According to Ivorian Foreign Minister Candia Camara, 1,300 of the country’s citizens have volunteered to leave Tunisia. Several African countries have announced that flights for returnees will continue – until everyone who wants to leave Tunisia.