DURING a meeting late on Friday, an official from Tunisia’s national security council revealed that undocumented sub-Saharan African migrants in the country received three billion dinars (about $1bn) in remittances from their home countries during the first half of 2023. President Kais Saied, who chaired the meeting, expressed shock at the figure and stated that it indicated Tunisia was being targeted.
‘This figure is shocking and indicates that Tunisia is being targeted,’ President Saied commented during the meeting.
Saied’s remarks drew criticism from rights groups as he denounced the undocumented sub-Saharan African immigration to Tunisia, suggesting that it aimed at altering the country’s demographic makeup.
The announced amount of remittances received by undocumented migrants surpasses the revenues generated by Tunisia’s vital tourism industry in the first half of the year, which amounted to 2.2 billion dinars.
In recent months, thousands of undocumented migrants have flocked to the coastal city of Sfax with the intention of embarking on boats operated by human traffickers, seeking to reach Europe. This influx has resulted in an unprecedented migration crisis for Tunisia.
In response, Tunisia has taken measures to address the situation. This month, hundreds of migrants were relocated to a desolate area along the border following violent clashes between local residents and migrants in Sfax. However, facing pressure from international and local rights groups, who raised concerns about the safety of the migrants, the government subsequently moved them to shelters in two towns this week.