Tunisia’s government is seeking to allay growing international concerns about a surge of discrimination against sub-Saharan Africans, as the European Union warned Monday against hate speech targeting people fleeing conflict and poverty.
African governments have evacuated hundreds of their citizens from Tunisia in recent days after migrants, foreign students, and others recounted racist abuse in the streets and online. The tensions erupted after Tunisian President Kais Saied lashed out at migrants last month and inveighed against a perceived plot to erase Tunisia’s identity. New measures include a hotline for migrants to report any violations of their rights, medical and psychological assistance for all migrants, and new residence cards for students from other African countries “to facilitate their stay on Tunisian soil.”
“We urge Tunisian authorities to meet their obligations under international law to protect the rights of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants,” US State Department spokesman Ned Price said. This also comes as the president has amassed ever-greater powers and moved to stifle opposition voices.
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