In Tunisia this week, a notable human rights activist found herself in police custody amidst growing accusations of migrant mistreatment in the North African nation. Saadia Mosbah, president of the Tunisian anti-racism association “Mnemty” (“My dream”), was apprehended on charges of money laundering, as reported by Tunisian media sources.
Following her arrest, the Tunisian Human Rights League confirmed that Mosbah would be held in custody for a five-day investigative period. Mosbah, recognized for her advocacy work against racism, notably received the Global Anti-Racism Champions Award from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in August 2023.
Mosbah’s detention coincided with emerging reports detailing heightened crackdowns on Black African migrants within Tunisia. According to Al Jazeera and local Tunisian media outlets, migrants from sub-Saharan Africa have been subjected to mass round-ups and, in some instances, expulsion from their residences, relocating them to Tunisia’s border regions with Algeria and Libya.
Known for her staunch defense of the rights of sub-Saharan migrants within Tunisia, Mosbah’s activism gained traction, particularly amid escalating tensions in the past year. President Kais Saied’s rhetoric in early 2023, blaming “hordes of illegal migrants” for Tunisia’s socioeconomic challenges, spurred violence against migrants, both by local residents and authorities.
Throughout last year, numerous news agencies and humanitarian organizations decried reported incidents of mass expulsions and detentions of Black African migrants. These individuals were allegedly transported to desert regions and abandoned without sustenance or shelter.
Mosbah’s arrest followed closely on the heels of President Saied’s denunciation of Tunisian humanitarian organizations advocating for sub-Saharan migrants. During a National Security Council meeting, Saied accused such associations of receiving substantial foreign funding and labeled their leaders as “traitors and mercenaries.”
The Tunisian Forum for Social and Economic Rights (FTDES) reported recent instances of Tunisian authorities forcibly removing hundreds of asylum seekers, migrants, and refugees from encampments in Tunis. Subsequently, these individuals were transported to locations near the Algerian border.
In early April, FTDES published a report detailing alleged instances of violence perpetrated by Tunisian authorities against migrants during interceptions at sea and on land. Additionally, Italian activists from Memoria Mediterranea shared testimonies from migrants involved in a shipwreck off the Tunisian coast on April 5, further highlighting the precarious conditions faced by migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean.
The testimonies included accounts of Tunisian National Guard (GNT) officers allegedly obstructing migrant vessels, using tear gas, and causing the sinking of a migrant boat. Despite attempts by migrants to appeal for assistance, the witness claimed that GNT officers prioritized obstructing their passage rather than aiding them, resulting in several deaths.
These testimonies underscored broader concerns regarding Tunisia’s treatment of migrants and asylum seekers, echoing similar practices observed across North Africa. Memoria Mediterranea cautioned that the EU’s migration and asylum policies could exacerbate such practices, legitimizing border management tactics that violate human rights.
In response to criticisms of racism and mistreatment of Black African migrants, President Saied has consistently refuted allegations, maintaining that his comments were misrepresented and intended to safeguard Tunisia’s identity and security. Tunisia’s stance on migration remains a subject of scrutiny, with human rights advocates urging for greater accountability and protection of migrant rights within the country.