Sub-Saharan migrants, like Jonas from Nigeria, face significant struggles in Tunisia amid rising anti-migrant sentiment and government repression. Despite hopes for asylum support, many are left without aid as organizations face restrictions and raids. The situation worsened after the UN stopped new applications, influenced by the Tunisian government. Economic strains and European agreements further complicate migrants’ prospects, revealing a troubling scenario of persecution and disregard for human rights.
Jonas, a 48-year-old migrant from Nigeria, shares his despair after facing ethnic violence and a treacherous journey through Niger and Libya to reach Tunisia. After arriving in Tunis, where his wife gave birth, he found himself trapped in a frozen asylum system amid rising anti-migrant sentiments and a government crackdown on migrant aid groups. “I have no assistance here… so I carry my cross,” he states while searching for plastic waste to survive.
As a primary transit route for sub-Saharan migrants aiming for Europe, Tunisia has seen a rise in hostility towards these individuals. President Kais Saied declared that “hordes of illegal migrants” posed a demographic threat, inciting racially-based violence and pushing many migrants out of urban areas. The World Organisation Against Torture noted that authorities continue to criminalize migrants, leaving them in dangerous conditions with a lack of crucial support.
In 2022, the UN refugee agency ceased accepting new applications in Tunisia due to government directives, complicating the situation for migrants seeking refuge. The Tunisian foreign ministry has denied these claims, asserting that the state balances its border protections while upholding international responsibilities. At the same time, civil society groups express that the regime has restricted their operation space, with multiple aid workers detained since May.
Saied’s administration has labeled and disparaged aid organizations, calling them “traitors and mercenaries” for allegedly facilitating illegal settlements of migrants. This rhetoric has led to the arrest of key figures, like Mustapha Djemali, president of the Tunisian Refugee Council and advocates against racism. These actions have disrupted the operations of at least 14 organizations, many of which have had to drastically alter or halt their activities altogether.
Romdhane Ben Amor from the Tunisian rights group FTDES highlights that this clampdown is a calculated strategy to render migrants more vulnerable. Tunisians, facing high unemployment and economic stagnation, often feel ill-equipped to support incoming migrants. The situation is further complicated by European policies that have effectively expelled migrants to Tunisia, which now bears the brunt of this crisis.
The plight of sub-Saharan migrants in Tunisia is dire, exacerbated by governmental restrictions and social hostility. With a faltering asylum system and the ongoing criminalization of migration, individuals like Jonas find themselves in precarious situations without support. European agreements have intensified this crisis, reflecting a troubling collaboration that prioritizes border control over the welfare of vulnerable populations. The escalating xenophobia and clampdown on aid work indicate a troubling trend for migrants in Tunisia.
Original Source: www.kten.com
