Tunisia's Xenophobia Backfires On Its Fragile Economy

In a February 21, 2023 national security council address, Tunisian President Kaïs Saied accused sub-Saharan African immigrants of fostering 'violence, crime and unacceptable practices.'

His comments unleashed a wave of racist violence across the country, exposing black residents to abuse and public vindictiveness. In response, the governments of Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali and Burkina Faso, among others, organised the evacuation of their citizens from Tunisia.

The president's comments triggered condemnation from some anti-racist movements but also revealed the extent of underlying racism in Tunisia. The country has long- struggled with a mixed heritage of African and Arab-Berber culture, downplaying a history of slavery that still underpins social representations of dark-skinned communities.

Anti-racist movements that proposed a provision on the matter during the drafting of a new constitution following the 2011 revolution, were accused of "trying to create a problem that doesn't exist."

Since the 2011 removal of former dictator Zine el Abidine Ben Ali in a popular uprising that started the Arab Spring, institutional instability and the Covid-19 pandemic have weakened the economy. A public debt worth 89% of GDP, rampant inflation, a continuous drop in currency value, and high unemployment rates - particularly among the youth - reflect a dire situation and widespread social despair.