Hundreds of demonstrators protested in Sfax, in central eastern Tunisia, against the presence of irregular sub-Saharan migrants in their city, the main illegal departure point in the country towards Europe.
“Protect Sfax”, in particular chanted the protesters gathered in front of the prefecture of the city, at the call of a local movement, Sayeb Trottoir, noted an AFP correspondent. The president of this movement Zied Mallouli considers the presence of illegal migrants as “a threat to the safety of the inhabitants of Sfax”.
Sfax, the second largest city in Tunisia, is the starting point for a large number of illegal crossings of illegal migrants to Italy. Its inhabitants have often criticized the “growing” presence of illegal migrants and called for their departure.
Calls against the presence of illegal immigrants in Tunisia have multiplied after a speech on February 21 by President Kaïs Saïed slamming illegal immigration and presenting it as a demographic threat to his country. Cases of attacks against migrants from sub-Saharan Africa were recorded after this speech.
“Vulnerable”
Several local and international NGOs then denounced “the speeches of hate and intimidation against migrants [from sub-Saharan Africa] broadcast on social networks which contribute to the mobilization against the most vulnerable groups and fuel violent behavior against them. “.
At the end of May, a 30-year-old Beninese migrant was stabbed to death in an attack carried out by a group of young Tunisians in a working-class neighborhood in Sfax.
Most migrants from sub-Saharan African countries come to Tunisia to then attempt to emigrate by sea to Europe, landing illegally on the Italian coast.
Tunisia is going through a serious politico-economic crisis which is also pushing many Tunisians to try to reach Europe illegally by sea at the risk of their lives.
