Tunisia crackdown leaves migrants camping at embassies

Dozens of West African migrants camped Tuesday at embassies in Tunisia after being turfed out of their homes, the result of an abrupt crackdown announced by President Kais Saied.

Some 50 people including 11 toddlers were huddled in front of the Ivory Coast embassy in Tunis, an AFP correspondent said.

Wrapped in blankets against the cold winds, the adults said they had been sleeping outside for four days.

"We need nappies and baby milk, we have nothing to eat," said Ivorian Rokhia Kone, 23, with her baby on her back.

Several men showed stale pieces of bread they said would be their only meal for the day.

Last week, Saied had ordered security forces to take "urgent measures" against "hordes" of African migrants whom he accused, without evidence, of causing a wave of crime and representing a plot to change the country's demographic make-up.

Rights groups in Tunisia have reported a spike in violence against black migrants since President Kais Saied's remarks. By FETHI BELAID (AFP)

Rights groups in the North African country have since reported a spike in violence against black migrants, who say they have been thrown out of their dwellings en masse.

Tunisia's top diplomat sought to "reassure" the migrants on Monday, but told AFP there was no need for an apology.

"There's no problem with legal migrants," Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar said in an interview, but "illegal migrants should return home."

Outside the Ivorian embassy, a Tunisian woman arrived with tarpaulin mattresses to help migrants shelter from the winter elements.

Another woman, Monia Ghozali Khraief, said the situation was "shameful".

"Where are the NGOs, the associations, the Red Crescent and the international organisations?"

She said she had launched an appeal to her 78,000 social media followers to collect aid for those made homeless in recent days.

'Thrown out'

Hundreds of migrants had lined up at the Ivorian embassy on Tuesday to register for voluntary repatriation.

Awaiting their flights, many have nowhere to sleep as Tunisian landlords have been ordered to evict migrants without legal status, under the threat of heavy fines.

Awaiting repatriation flights, many have nowhere to sleep as Tunisian landlords have been ordered to evict migrants without legal status. By FETHI BELAID (AFP)

Diplomats from two countries concerned said they were attempting to negotiate a waiver of fines for migrants overstaying their visas, usually at 80 dinars ($25) a month.

According to figures from the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES), drawn from official sources, around 21,000 undocumented migrants from other parts of Africa live in Tunisia, a country of about 12 million inhabitants.

That figure includes foreign university students and workers who complain they are unable to obtain the paperwork they need because of Tunisia's archaic bureaucracy.

At the Malian embassy, another group of around 30 now-homeless migrants were being housed in the building, a diplomat said Tuesday on condition of anonymity.

The diplomat said 200 people had already been registered for repatriation by lunch time.

The embassy also asked "Malians in a regular situation to show solidarity and host them", added the diplomat, saying Tunisian police were "doing the rounds".

"People can't work any more and are being thrown out of their homes."

The High Council for the Malian Diaspora in Bamako said in a statement it "strongly condemns the hateful and racist comments of the Tunisian president".