RENOWNED French rapper Maître Gims has taken a stand against the treatment of black African migrants in Tunisia, announcing the cancellation of his upcoming concert in Djerba. In a heartfelt post on his Instagram account on Sunday, the rapper expressed his deep concern over the inhumane conditions faced by the migrants near the border areas with Algeria and Libya.
‘Children, women, men, expelled from Tunisia to Libya, live in inhuman conditions,’ Maître Gims wrote. ‘I cannot maintain my visit to Tunisia, scheduled for August 11. I don’t know what the solutions are. But this extreme distress is unbearable.’
Tunisia has become a major gateway for irregular migrants and asylum-seekers attempting perilous sea voyages in the hope of a better life in Europe. The distance between Tunisia’s port city of Sfax and Italy’s Lampedusa island is merely about 130 kilometres, making it a popular route for migration.
In early July, racial tensions escalated following the death of a Tunisian man in a clash between locals and migrants in Sfax. Subsequently, hundreds of migrants from sub-Saharan African countries were evicted from the region, leading to further distress for these vulnerable individuals.
The NGO Human Rights Watch reported that up to 1,200 Africans were ‘expelled or forcibly transferred’ to remote desert areas. As a result, hundreds of migrants were left stranded in the desert near Al-Assah, approximately 150 kilometres west of Tripoli, Libya. Libyan border guards have since rescued these migrants, highlighting the dire humanitarian crisis.
The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) issued a joint statement calling the situation an ‘unfolding tragedy.’ They emphasized the urgent need for life-saving humanitarian assistance and humane solutions for these displaced migrants, including women, some of whom are pregnant, and children.
Earlier this year, several West African nations repatriated hundreds of citizens from Tunisia due to racist attacks. Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed’s remarks in February attributing crime to ‘hordes of illegal migrants from sub-Saharan Africa’ and alleging a ‘criminal plot’ to change the country’s demographic makeup have further fuelled tensions.
The European Union has engaged in talks with the Tunisian government, offering a significant funding package to support the country’s struggling economy and bolster border security. However, the plight of the African migrants remains a pressing concern that demands immediate attention and action. Maître Gims’ decision to cancel his concert is a notable expression of solidarity and concern for those suffering in the region.