Sub Saharan Africa Must Fight Racist Maghreb Now

 

News that Tunisia is now deporting what it views as illegal immigrants from Sub-Saharan Africa is not good news. It is pure racism against the SSA, which the SSA countries need to fight timely and viciously. Although racism against Black People’s been rife in the Maghreb and the world, it recently took precarious turn when Tunisian President Kais Saed, a retired professor of law, brashly unleashed a purge against what he referred to as Black Africans who’s quoted as saying that “the undeclared goal of the successive waves of illegal immigration is to consider Tunisia a purely African country that has no affiliation to the Arab and Islamic nations” (Guardian, Feb 23, 2023). Outrageously, the world did nothing about Saed’s criminality whose sentiments show that, like other Africans from the Maghreb and somewhat North Sudan, wrongly feels he’s an Arab but not  an Africa. If Tunisia isn’t purely African, why’s it still a member of the AU? Why don’t all those harbouring such farcical mindsets pack and go to the Arab countries, which–––I’m pretty sure–––will purge and send them back to where they belong.

        Nonetheless, the irony is, when such persons go to the Middle East, they’re reminded of who they actually are, Africans per se. Then, how dare he? Now that Saed stood his ground and purged all Black Sub Saharans who were in Tunisia legally and illegally, why’s the world conspired with him as collective victims kept mum while being blatantly and openly discriminated against, tortured, and purged in what Saed illegal crackdown? Legally, a crackdown’s a legal action against illegality, which doesn’t apply in Saed’s racist purgatives––– not all were in the country illegally as per Saed’s distorted application of the term. Why? Salsabil Chellali, Tunisia’s office director for Human Rights watch says that “what we are seeing right now is really an increase of violence against sub-Saharan violence or students, and, really, a climate of fear” (VOA, March 2, 2023).

        Up until now, a month down the line, Sub-Saharan Africa’s failed to unite and voice its dander and take deserved actions against this collective discrimination done by an African country against Africans. Is this different from afrophobic South Africa’s attacks, which receive deserved condemnations and threats to sever relationships with South Africa? Why’ve victims and the world at large conspired with Tunisia’s blatant racism against their people? What makes matters worse is the fact that the same Sub Saharan Africans who are victims, mainly Muslims take to the streets whenever an Arab country is maltreated. What’s wrong here? Isn’t this self-discrimination and inferiority complex? Ironically, when all African countries and the world has not adequately addressed and ignored this obvious and obnoxious move, Romdhane Ben Amor, spokesperson for the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES) condemned and said that “it is a racist approach, just like the campaigns in Europe.”

            It came to light last year that Africans were sold to slavery in Libya. Again, the world kept mum on it while it hollered over US’ recognition of Jerusalem as a capital of Israel that took place at the same time. It seems approx. 10 million Israelis and 5 million Palestinians respectively are more important than 1.4 billion Africans because of colour and geopolitics. Twelve years ago before, former Libya potentate who pretended to be a Pan Africanist, Muamar Gadaffi shocked the world when he’s quoted as saying that “there is a dangerous level of immigration from Africa into Europe and we don't know what will happen. What will be the reaction of the white Christian Europeans to this mass of hungry uneducated Africans?” (Guardian, September 1, 2010).

        The situation is worse, and it needs a collective African voice of conscience by our leaders. The New York Times (March 2, 2023) notes that “as African migrants are swept up in a widening crackdown, critics say President Kais Saied is openly mining a deep vein of discrimination and prejudice against dark-skinned people in Tunisia.” What are our rulers waiting for not taking Tunisia on even heavily punishing it? What precedent are they setting? Will Tunisia easily get away with murder like Europe has? What’s be done and when?

In sum, now, what should Africa in general, especially the AU whose response was simply to say it was shocked without taking any stern measures do? I propose the following:

        Firstly, kick Tunisia out of the AU up until the authorities there do the right thing, which is for Saed to make an apology.

        Secondly, legal actions before African Court of Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) or the International Criminal Court (ICC) should be instituted to see to it that culprits are arraigned and prosecuted.

        Thirdly, Tunisia should be ordered redress and allow the victims back to the country to go on with what they’re doings, especially those who were there legally.

Fourthly, African countries must expel Tunisia’s ambassadors and sever ties with it up until it rectifies its crimes and errors.

Source: Independent Zimbabwe.