Tunisian citizens join state-led witch hunt against migrants

Tunisia’s regime, under the rule of Kais Saied, has been indulging in a xenophobic discourse blaming migrants for the country’s economic woes, as more Tunisians engage in clashes with migrants in different cities.

In recent days, the government has intensified its crackdown arresting and throwing thousands of migrants in inhumane conditions on the borders with Algeria and Libya.

President Saied, who warned of “great replacement” of Tunisians by Sub-Saharans, continues his hate speech spree saying traitors are conspiring to drown Tunisia with migrants.

Mimicking him, Tunisian leaders and some media figures have been encouraging civilian Tunisians to join the witch hunt against Sub-Saharan migrants bound for Europe and most of whom qualify for refugee status.

Aljazeera reported that public figures, including Member of Parliament Badreddine Gammoudi, are also calling for the establishment of citizen militias to fight the “conspiracy” of “suspicious entities” looking to “settle refugees and migrants in Tunisia.”

Hamza Meddeb, of the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, said: “We’re seeing the beginning of citizen militias and an angry public attacking the migrants. Something’s going to give … it’s inevitable. Tunisia has basically become a trap for migrants.”

The omens of violence can already be seen in Sfax and other coastal cities where Tunisians have taken aim at Sub-Saharans triggering violent clashes.

Tunisia is mired in an economic and financial crisis worsened by the backpedaling to autocracy as president Kais Saied intensifies his crackdown on critics, while picking migrants as scapegoats.