Migrants get the boot
In Tunisia, tensions rose as activists protested at the European Union (EU) headquarters against authorities’ crackdown on migrant…
In Tunisia, tensions rose as activists protested at the European Union (EU) headquarters against authorities’ crackdown on migrant communities. Some activists were arrested this week for alleged financial crimes related to aiding migrants. Reduced migrant crossings this year are attributed to the weather and increased border security. These figures align with EU objectives as part of a deal worth more than $1.1 billion on border control. However, human rights activists criticised the crackdown and condemned the security-focused approach of Mediterranean governments. Signs mourned Tunisians lost at sea and criticised Tunisia’s cooperation with Italy and Europe.
Thursday’s protests come more than a year after a virulent xenophobic and anti-black speech made by President Kais Saied in which he accused black migrants of using Tunisia as a passage to the EU and of attempting to replace the Arab populace. This came with more stories from migrants stuck in the Mediterranean, who complain of very poor quality of life and treatment from their Tunisian hosts. Importantly, Kais Saied’s speech was well received by some parts of the Tunisian populace as landlords heeded the call to crack down on migrants by terminating tenancy agreements. At the same time, security forces launched a manhunt for migrants, some of whom were shipped to the border with Libya. Mr Saied could escape the consequences of this because there is a sufficient willingness within the EU to turn a blind eye. Since 2022, the frontline states of the EU, led by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Ursula Von Der Leyen, have regularly visited North African states serving as transit hubs. They have pledged nearly a billion euros in various forms of aid aimed at enhancing border policing and curbing the influx of undocumented migrants into Europe. The number of migrants risking the perilous journey across the Mediterranean Sea has decreased this year compared to the previous, owing to both weather conditions and strengthened border security measures. The 2024 figures align with the EU’s objectives. The deal appears to be yielding fruits. And its apparent success has not only led European capitals to overlook potential human rights concerns, but it has also cultivated an increasing appetite for similar arrangements. This trend has evolved significantly from the contentious “Fortress Europe” agreement between the EU and Sudan’s Omar Al Bashir’s Janjaweeds, notorious for their inhumane treatment of migrants, to the current UK-Rwanda migrant processing deal, which continues to raise eyebrows amidst mounting human rights criticisms. Ultimately, while this deal may be successful for a group seeking “friends” in Africa, the EU will come to rue its backing of authoritarian figures like Kais Saied.