Guinea, Ivory Coast repatriating residents from Tunisia

CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) — The West African nations of Guinea and Ivory Coast are repatriating residents who need to depart Tunisia after the nation’s more and more authoritarian chief known as for a crackdown on migrants from sub-Saharan Africa.

Morissanda Kouyate, Guinea’s Minister of Overseas Affairs and Guineans Overseas, was aboard the chartered flight that introduced again 49 Guineans to Conakry Wednesday evening, the federal government stated. One other 81 are awaiting future flights, he added.

“Our compatriots in Tunisia, we discovered that a few of them had misplaced hope,” Kouyate stated. “And it was with a heavy coronary heart that I used to be in a position to meet with them as a result of the circumstances had been troublesome.”

Mamaaissata Sacko, a mom of three youngsters, stated her household had been attacked and lived in worry within the North African nation.

“We didn’t exit to get meals. As quickly as you exit, they hit you with rocks. They are saying: ‘Go away. Go dwelling — Tunisia is for Tunisians.’ My youngsters and I spent two days with out consuming,” she stated upon her return to Guinea late Wednesday.

In the meantime, Ivory Coast’s authorities stated about 500 Ivorians have expressed curiosity in repatriation flights that shall be operated by the nationwide service Air Cote d’Ivoire.

Tunisia has lengthy been a vacation spot for financial migrants from West Africa due to the French language many share and North Africa’s proximity to Europe. An estimated 21,000 migrants from sub-Saharan Africs had been dwelling in Tunisia in 2021, most of whom entered from Algeria and Libya.

Final month Tunisian President Kais Saied stated that “pressing measures” had been wanted to deal with the entry of irregular immigrants from sub-Saharan nations, “with their lot of violence, crimes and unacceptable practices.”

He ordered a fast response through “diplomatic, safety, army fronts” and strict utility of the regulation on foreigners.

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Related Press author Toussaint N’Gotta in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, contributed.