Tunisia’s recent controversy surrounding sub-Saharan migration has prompted many migrants to flee the country due to discrimination and harassment they have faced. This controversy began when President Kais Saied called the migration a “conspiracy” to change the country’s identity, which many people viewed as racist. Since then, social media has been flooded with hate speech and misinformation on the issue.
One unfounded claim that has been circulating is that there are over 700,000 sub-Saharan immigrants in Tunisia. However, the Tunisian Institute of Migration Statistics has confirmed that there are only around 58,000 immigrants residing in the country, with only 21,000 coming from sub-Saharan Africa.
The anti-immigrant sentiment in Tunisia has now spilled over onto Moroccan and Egyptian social media pages and groups, with social media users urging the preservation of their national identity. This has led to dark-skinned Tunisians being confused for undocumented immigrants and subjected to verbal and physical assault.
In response, a social media campaign featuring Tunisians posing with their ID cards alongside the hashtag “‘my papers on top, just in case'” has been launched. However, this campaign has also sparked outrage from sub-Saharan countries, with some countries even calling for retaliatory measures against Tunisia.
Furthermore, a video circulating on social media showing an alleged Tunisian citizen being detained and expelled from Guinea due to discrimination and harassment was found to be from April of 2022, and the man was from Spain, not Tunisia.
The World Bank has halted talks on its future engagement with Tunisia, and the EU has warned against hateful rhetoric against people fleeing conflict and poverty.
The situation in Tunisia highlights the need for accurate information and an end to hate speech on social media. It is also vital that governments address the issue of discrimination and harassment towards sub-Saharan migrants, refugees, and vulnerable individuals fleeing homelessness, conflict, and poverty.
