عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Tunisia: Rights Groups Slam ‘Racist' Migrant Comments

Sub-Saharan African women look for clothes in a thrift store in the popular Ariana souk near Tunis on February 22, 2023. (Photo by FETHI BELAID / AFP)
Sub-Saharan African women look for clothes in a thrift store in the popular Ariana souk near Tunis on February 22, 2023. (Photo by FETHI BELAID / AFP)
TT
20
TT

Tunisia: Rights Groups Slam ‘Racist' Migrant Comments

Sub-Saharan African women look for clothes in a thrift store in the popular Ariana souk near Tunis on February 22, 2023. (Photo by FETHI BELAID / AFP)
Sub-Saharan African women look for clothes in a thrift store in the popular Ariana souk near Tunis on February 22, 2023. (Photo by FETHI BELAID / AFP)

Tunisian rights groups accused on Wednesday President Kais Saied of racism and hate speech after he said "hordes" of sub-Saharan African migrants were causing crime and posed a demographic threat.

A statement from his office, decrying "a criminal plot... to change Tunisia's demographic make-up" without citing any evidence, has sparked an outcry online.

"Hordes of illegal immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa are still arriving, with all the violence, crime and unacceptable practices that entails," Saied told his national security council on Tuesday evening, according to the statement.

Some Tunisians have taken to social media to accuse the president of outright racism and invoking right-wing conspiracy theories.

Advocacy group the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES) said Wednesday Saied's discourse was "drowning in racism and hatred".

"The president is using the migration crisis... to distract attention from economic and social problems," spokesman Romdhane Ben Amor told AFP.

More than 21,000 sub-Saharan Africans live in Tunisia, including those with student visas and other legal residency, the FTDES says, citing official figures.

Many irregular migrants from the Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Ghana and Guinea work badly paid, unofficial jobs to get by and save up for attempts to reach Italy.

Ben Amor said Saied's latest comments showed he had "obviously and totally caved in to pressure from the Italian authorities to stop the flow of migrants" towards European shores.

Tunisian anti-racism group Mnemty said it "condemns this racist discourse, which incites hatred and aggression, enmity and violence against black sub-Saharan African migrants".

In a joint statement, a coalition of 18 rights groups expressed their "complete and unconditional solidarity with sub-Saharan immigrants and their defenders".

Mostafa Abdelkebir, president of the Tunisian Observatory of Human Rights, said on Facebook the president's rhetoric does not represent the country "at all".

Most Viewed

 
Arab World

Sisi, Burhan Discuss Nile Water Security, Post-War Reconstruction in Sudan

Sisi meets Al-Burhan at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo on April 28, 2025 (Egyptian Presidency). 
Sisi meets Al-Burhan at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo on April 28, 2025 (Egyptian Presidency). 
TT
20
TT

Sisi, Burhan Discuss Nile Water Security, Post-War Reconstruction in Sudan

Sisi meets Al-Burhan at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo on April 28, 2025 (Egyptian Presidency). 
Sisi meets Al-Burhan at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo on April 28, 2025 (Egyptian Presidency). 

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held high-level talks in Cairo on Monday with Sudanese Sovereignty Council Chairman General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, focusing on regional water security and Egypt’s role in rebuilding war-torn Sudan.

The meeting, held at Al-Ittihadiya Palace, underscored Egypt’s commitment to supporting Sudan amid its ongoing internal conflict, which has ravaged the country since April 2023. Sisi reaffirmed his country’s readiness to contribute to reconstruction efforts and help restore infrastructure destroyed by the civil war.

In a joint statement, the two leaders emphasized their continued coordination to preserve the water security of both nations and rejected unilateral measures concerning the Nile River. Egyptian presidential spokesperson Mohamed al-Shennawy said the talks also covered broader regional issues, particularly developments in the Nile Basin and the Horn of Africa.

“There is complete alignment between Egypt and Sudan on the strategic importance of shared water resources and the need for regional stability,” al-Shennawy said.

The two sides reiterated their opposition to unilateral actions related to the Blue Nile—Ethiopia’s main tributary for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Egypt and Sudan have long called for a binding legal agreement with Ethiopia on the dam’s operation to safeguard their downstream water rights.

Al-Burhan’s visit came at the invitation of Sisi and follows a series of diplomatic contacts aimed at bolstering bilateral cooperation. Sisi personally welcomed the Sudanese leader at Cairo Airport before accompanying him to the palace for official reception ceremonies.

Talks included the recent battlefield developments in Sudan, where the Sudanese Armed Forces have reportedly regained control of the capital, Khartoum. Both leaders discussed coordinating efforts to support civilians in conflict zones and advance political and economic integration between the two countries.

In expanded discussions involving ministers and senior officials from both sides, Egypt and Sudan agreed to accelerate joint projects in key sectors such as electricity interconnection, rail infrastructure, trade, agriculture, health, industry, mining, and cultural exchange.

Sudan has been mired in civil war since mid-2023, pitting the national army against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict has displaced over 14 million people, with more than 1.2 million seeking refuge in Egypt, according to UN figures.

Sisi has consistently called for a ceasefire and stressed the importance of maintaining Sudan’s territorial integrity and institutional stability. He recently condemned plans by the RSF to announce a parallel government in areas under its control, calling the move a direct threat to Sudan’s unity and sovereignty.

Sudanese Ambassador to Cairo Imad-Eddin Adawi hailed the summit as a testament to the “depth and resilience” of Egyptian-Sudanese ties. “There is a shared political will to move forward together,” he said, adding that Egypt plays a pivotal role in mediating regional stability and facilitating dialogue among Sudanese factions.

Hossam Issa, Egypt’s former assistant foreign minister for Sudan, described al-Burhan’s visit as a “milestone” in efforts to end the conflict. “The recent military gains on the ground could pave the way for restoring governance in Khartoum and beginning the process of reconstruction,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.