After Saeed's statements against immigrants... Guinea and Ivory Coast begin evacuating their citizens from Tunisia

The Guinean government announced yesterday, Wednesday, the return of about 50 migrants to their country, while the Ivory Coast said that it had begun evacuating its citizens, after the controversial statements made by President Kais Saeed against the migrants.

Mamady Doumboya, head of the ruling military junta in Guinea, received his citizens on the grounds of the airport in the capital, Conakry, upon their return from Tunisia.

Guinean Foreign Minister Mauriceanda Koyaté said that the plane chartered by his country, on which he went to accompany his compatriots wishing to leave, returned 49 Guineas to their country.

Adding that the government will establish an air bridge between Conakry and Tunisia to return all those who wish.

The President of the Transition, Chef de l'Etat, le Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya, s'est rendu ce mercredi 1er mars à l'aéroport international AST pour accuellir ses compatriotes guinéens venant de la Tunisie.

DCI-PRG pic.twitter.com/ovGTLmwYBa

- Presidence de la Guinée (@Presidence_gn) March 1, 2023

And the French Press Agency reported an escalation of attacks against African immigrants since the statements made by Tunisian President Kais Saied a week ago, in which he called for "urgent measures."

Adding that dozens of immigrants rushed to their embassies to return them to their countries.

Said said that the presence of these irregular migrants in Tunisia is a source of "violence and crimes" and part of a "criminal arrangement" aimed at "changing the demographic composition of Tunisia."

Ivory Coast has announced that it has begun evacuations of about 500 citizens from Tunisia.

"The most urgent matter is to save lives and prevent injuries," said the Ivorian government spokesman, noting that return flights could take place within 24 to 72 hours.

Tunisian human rights organizations condemned Saeed's speech, saying it was "racist" and called for "hate".

According to the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights, more than 21,000 immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa reside in Tunisia, with a population of 12 million, most of whom are in an irregular situation.