Tensions have escalated in Tunisia as authorities continue to implement stringent measures against migrants from sub-Saharan African countries, imposing restrictions on housing rentals and employment opportunities, forcing many to live in makeshift camps to cope with harsh weather conditions.
In a move that sparked widespread controversy, Tunisian security forces carried out forced evictions of migrant camps, disregarding difficult humanitarian situations, as recently witnessed in Sousse. Photos and videos documented the severity of the measures taken, drawing sharp criticism from human rights organizations.
Deteriorating Humanitarian Conditions in Numbers:
A recent study by the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights revealed the deteriorating living conditions of migrants in Tunisia, with more than half living in inhumane conditions. The study, which included 379 migrants, showed that many are forced to sleep in streets, public parks, and camps, in the absence of official solutions ensuring them a minimum of human dignity.
Human Rights Calls to Stop Violations:
Amid these developments, Tunisian and international human rights organizations called on the Tunisian government to find urgent humanitarian solutions for the situation of migrants and to stop forced evictions that exacerbate their suffering, stressing the need to respect human rights and comply with international agreements related to the protection of refugees and migrants.
This escalation comes when Tunisia faces significant economic and social challenges, making the migration file a sensitive issue that sparks broad divisions in Tunisian society.
The Tunisian President’s Stance:
Tunisian President Kais Saied has affirmed on several occasions that Tunisia “will not be a transit point or a destination” for irregular migrants, emphasizing that his country treats them humanely, but will not bear the consequences of a “global system” that caused these conditions.
Saied added that international organizations concerned with migration issues often limit themselves to issuing statements and attempt to “impose a fait accompli” that Tunisians will not accept.
