Tunisia has adopted new assistance measures for students and migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, on February 6, according to a press release from the Office of the Presidency of the Republic.
The Presidency of the Republic and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have announced new “measures to improve the situation of foreigners in Tunisia and simplify procedures” to resolve their situation.
North African state to issue one-year residence permits “to students who are citizens of African sister countries, to facilitate their stay and allow them to periodically renew their documents”.
Tunisian authorities are also “extending residence permits from three to six months” for people from many sub-Saharan countries, such as the Ivory Coast, whose citizens enjoy a three-month visa waiver upon entering Tunisia.
Tunisia also wants “facilitate voluntary return operations in an organized manner and in coordination with their diplomatic missions.”
Migrants who voluntarily return to their country of origin will be “exempt” from fines of 80 dinars ($26) each month they are “illegally” in Tunisia.
The President also promised to strengthen medical and social assistance to migrants through the Red Crescent, seeking “Combat all forms of human trafficking and exploitation of illegal immigrants.”
A toll-free number was created for “residents of other African countries” to “report any violations against them.”
Around 300 Ivorians and Malians were repatriated on March 4 to avoid what several witnesses described as a “splash of hate.”
On February 21, President Said said that the presence of “mobs” of illegal immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa was a source of “violence and crime” and was part of a “criminal enterprise” aimed at “changing the demographic makeup” of the country. . .
Tunisia has around 21,000 officially registered residents of sub-Saharan Africa, most of whom are in an “unstable” situation. Dozens have been arrested during police checks in the past two weeks.
Numerous physical attacks were registered and the migrants declared that they had been harassed and robbed.
Over the weekend, dozens of migrants flocked to their respective embassies, namely the headquarters of the Ivorian and Mali embassies, after losing their jobs and homes, according to AFP.
The recent wave of racism has also affected black Tunisians, who say they fear being mistaken in public for sub-Saharan immigrants and being attacked by “anti-immigrant militants.”
Source: Rossa Primavera
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