Tunisia announced on Sunday measures in favor of students and migrants from sub-Saharan Africa after attacks and demonstrations of hostility against them sparked by a virulent speech by President Kais Saied denouncing illegal immigration.
The Presidency of the Republic, the government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have announced “measures
to improve the situation of foreigners in Tunisia and facilitate the procedures
” for regularizing their situation.
They first decided “
to issue one-year residence permits to students who are nationals of brotherly African countries to facilitate their stay and allow them to periodically renew their documents
”.
In addition, the authorities have decided to "
extend residence certificates from three to six months
" for people from many sub-Saharan countries such as Côte d'Ivoire who benefit from a three-month visa exemption on entry. in Tunisia.
Tunisia also wishes to “
facilitate voluntary return operations within an organized framework and in coordination with their diplomatic missions
”.
These candidates for voluntary return will be “
exempted
” from penalties amounting to 80 dinars per month (25 euros), for some exceeding 1,000 euros.
The authorities have also promised to strengthen support and health and social assistance to migrants through the Red Crescent, while seeking to "fight
against all forms of human trafficking and the exploitation of irregular migrants
" in through an intensification of controls.
Read alsoIn Tunisia, anger is building up against President Kaïs Saïed
A toll-free number for “
residents of fellow African countries
” has been created to “
report any violations against them
”.
After fifty Guineans on Wednesday, around 300 Ivorians and Malians were repatriated on Saturday to escape what several witnesses described as "
a surge of hatred
" since statements by the Tunisian president.
On February 21, Kais Saied claimed that the presence of "
hordes
" of illegal immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa was a source of "
violence and crime
" and part of a "
criminal enterprise
" aimed at "
changing the demographic composition
" .
from the country.
After this speech, condemned by NGOs as "
racist and hateful
", nationals of sub-Saharan Africa reported an upsurge in attacks against them and rushed by the dozen to their embassies to be repatriated.
Some 21,000 sub-Saharans are officially registered in Tunisia, most of them in an irregular situation.
Dozens were arrested during police facies checks.
Numerous physical attacks have been recorded and migrants have testified to NGOs that they have been chased and robbed by veritable “
militias
”.