REPORT

In Tunis, the dismantling of a migrant camp in front of IOM headquarters goes wrong

Audio 01:29

Migrants outside IOM-UNHCR headquarters in Tunis after police attempted to dismantle the camp, April 10, 2023. AFP - FETHI BELAID

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

On Tuesday (April 11th), Tunisian police tried to dislodge dozens of migrants from the vicinity of the offices of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Tunis. Nigeriens, Sudanese, Guineans and Ivorians had found refuge in this district of Tunis which, in addition to UNHCR, is home to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

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With our correspondent in Tunis, Amira Souilem

The migrants are seeking international protection after some of them lost their jobs and homes following controversial speeches by Tunisian President Kais Saïed about their presence on national soil last February. One of them, a 17-year-old Guinean, still can't believe it. Phone in hand, he watches the videos he shot himself. "I tried to shoot some videos. But I couldn't do much. There was a lot of gas. It was difficult. The Sudanese were throwing stones. The police were just firing gas," he said.

Migrants harassed by police

Sticks and stones in hand, migrants and asylum seekers attack what they find. In particular, windshields and car windows are broken. The area around the premises of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is devastated.

The violence exploded as Tunisian police tried to dislodge them in a forceful manner. For several days, these migrants say they have been harassed by the police. A fear that is now redoubled. "We are afraid that citizens will come and attack us here. We're here, but we don't feel comfortable because there's been damage upstairs, over there. So we are afraid that citizens will come and attack us because they do not know who has committed violence and who has not," said one of them.

Eighty arrests took place following these clashes. The interior ministry said the migrants' relocation took place at the request of UNHCR's Tunis office.

► Also listen: Africa – Tunisia report: a mass with migrants in Tunis to bring appeasement

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Read on on the same topics:

  • Tunisia
  • Immigration
  • International migration