Kais Saied - The African Mirror

Mar

25

2023

African migrants say racism in Tunisia persists

WEEKS after a violent crackdown on migrants in Tunisia that triggered a perilous rush to leave by smuggler boats for Italy, many African nationals are still homeless and jobless and some say they still face racist attacks. Outside the United Nations refugee agency in Tunis, dozens of African migrants stood protesting this week in the temporary camp where they have lived, including with children, since authorities urged landlords to force them from their homes. "We need evacuation. Tunisia is not safe. No one has a future here when you have this colour. It is a crime to have this colour," said Josephus…

Mar

25

2023

By The African Mirror

African migrants stuck in Tunisia say racism persists after crackdown

NEWS

WEEKS after a violent crackdown on migrants in Tunisia that triggered a perilous rush to leave by smuggler boats for Italy, many African nationals are still homeless and jobless and some say they still face racist attacks. Outside the United Nations refugee agency in Tunis, dozens of African migrants stood protesting this week in the temporary camp where they have lived, including with children, since authorities urged landlords to force them from their homes. "We need evacuation. Tunisia is not safe. No one has a future here when you have this colour. It is a crime to have this colour," said Josephus…

Mar

12

2023

By The African Mirror

Tunisia detainees start hunger strike

NEWS

THREE prominent opponents of Tunisian President Kais Saied who were arrested last month and accused of conspiring against state security have gone on hunger strike, their lawyer and the son of one of them said. Former finance minister Khayam Turki, Attayar party co-founder Ghazi Chaouachi and protest leader Jawher Ben Mbarek were all detained as part of a crackdown on leading critics of Saied that has drawn a rebuke from rights organisations. Islam Hamza, a lawyer for the three men, said they had all begun a hunger strike. Chaouachi's son Youssef told Reuters authorities had told him they were moving…

Mar

11

2023

By The African Mirror

Tunisia’s president is targeting migrants to divert attention from serious domestic problems – a classic tactic

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

TUNISIA’S president Kais Saied recently called for urgent measures against illegal immigration of sub-Saharan African nationals. He said they were a source of “violence, crime and unacceptable acts”. His comments were condemned by the international community and the World Bank paused talks over its future engagement with Tunisia. They also led to widespread protests in Tunisia while hundreds of migrants fled the country. Author JEAN-PIERRE CASSARINO, Visiting professor, College of Europe Moina Spooner, from The Conversation Africa, asked Jean-Pierre Cassarino, an expert on international migration in the Maghreb and Africa region, to shed light on migration to Tunisia and what…

Mar

07

2023

By The African Mirror

Tunisian president rejects racism accusation after migrant crackdown

NEWS

TUNISIA'S president denounced racism and pointed to possible legal consequences for perpetrators 10 days after announcing a crackdown on illegal migration using language the African Union condemned as "racialised hate speech". During a statement on February 21 telling security forces to expel all illegal immigrants, President Kais Saied called migration a conspiracy to change Tunisia's demographics by making it more African and less Arab. Police detained hundreds of migrants, landlords summarily evicted hundreds from their homes and hundreds of others were fired from work, rights groups say. Many migrants said they had been attacked, including being pelted with stones by gangs of youths…

Mar

06

2023

By The African Mirror

Tunisian opposition defies protest ban with rally

NEWS

HUNDREDS of opposition supporters in Tunisia defied an official ban on their protest against the president after some of their leaders were arrested, breaking through a police barrier in central Tunis to rally in the city's main street. Before the protesters broke through the barrier, police warned them by loudspeaker that their demonstration was illegal but added that they would not stop them by force. Up to a thousand protesters then pushed through the cordon to reach Habib Bourguiba Avenue where most rallies take place, chanting "Shut down the coup" and "We want the release of the arrested". The National…

Mar

05

2023

By The African Mirror

Tunisian Judges Assoc. says president suspended judge for not imprisoning suspect

NEWS

THE Tunisian Judges Association said in a statement that Tunisian President Kais Saied had suspended a judge because he had not sent a suspect to prison, accusing the government of a crackdown on opponents. "The Association warns of the great and unprecedented pressures on the judiciary, after arrests and prosecutions that included political activists, judges, lawyers, trade unionists, journalists and media professionals," the statement said. A spokesperson for the president was not immediately available. Thomson Reuters Foundation

Mar

02

2023

By The African Mirror

African migrants suffer under crackdown in Tunisia

NEWS

ANGUS MCDOWALL SINCE Tunisia's president announced a crackdown on illegal immigration last week using language the African Union denounced as racialised, Malian construction worker Mohamed Kony has been evicted from his apartment and sacked from his job. Unemployed, homeless and without legal residency, he now fears he will face the fate of several of his friends who have been attacked on the street. "I am confused and worried," said Kony, 32, who has lived in Tunis for five years and appeared well-liked in his neighbourhood, where Tunisian residents said they enjoyed his cheerful demeanour and often employed him for small…

Feb

26

2023

By The African Mirror

Tunisian police arrest Ghazi Chaouachi, a prominent critic of president

NEWS

TUNISIAN police arrested Ghazi Chaouachi, the prominent critic of President Kais Saied, Ghazi's son said, the latest arrest targeting the president's opponents. About 20 policemen searched the house and arrested Ghazi, his son Elyess said. The arrest comes amid a crackdown on dissent this month that has targeted more than 12 people including opposition politicians, activists, protest organisers and a media figure as well as an influential business leader and two judges. Thomson Reuters Foundation

Feb

21

2023

By The African Mirror

U.S. raises concern over arrests of prominent critics in Tunisia

NEWS

KANISHKA SINGH and SIMON LEWIS THE United States was "deeply concerned" by the reported arrests of political figures, business leaders and journalists in Tunisia in recent days, U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price. In recent days, Tunisian police have detained a number of leading figures with links to the opposition or to critics of President Kais Saied, including prominent politicians, two judges, the head of Tunisia's main independent news outlet and a senior UGTT labour union official. U.S. officials were engaged with Tunisia's government at all levels in support of human rights and the freedom of expression, Price said in a press briefing. "We…