Police disperse migrants camp in Tunis on 'UNHCR's request'

Tunisian police have dispersed a sit-in camp of Sub-Saharan migrants protesting outside a United Nations office for over a month to demand evacuation to a 'safer state' after Tunisian president Kais Saied's anti-migration speech.

On Tuesday, Tunisian security officers broke up the encampment outside the Tunis office of the global body's refugee agencies UNHCR and IOM situated in Tunis' Lac neighbourhood using tear gas and force.

Migrants have sought refuge in the ally of IOM's building since 21 February; the same day Tunisian President Kais Saied spoke of an alleged plot on how 'the hordes of migrants' aim to change the society's makeup and erase 'the Arab and Islamic' identity of Tunisia.

استنفار أمني بمنطقة البحيرة إثر اشتباكات، بين رجال الأمن وعدد من المهاجرين الأفارقة جنوب الصحراء اعتدوا على مبنى المفوضية السامية لشؤون اللاجئين وهشموا عشرات السيارات #وكالة_وات pic.twitter.com/4ED4t371sZ

— Agence Tunis-Afrique-Presse (@AgenceTAP) April 11, 2023

Since 12 March, the camp's residents have launched a series of daily protests in front of the UNHCR's building, a few metres away from their camp.

Tuesday's security operation came after weeks of tensions between authorities and migrants as the latter refused to leave the area, fearing arrests and deportation. 

Tunisia state news agency reported on an 'eruption of clashes' between the police and migrants sharing videos of the camp residents throwing stones with pictures of damaged cars and property next to the camp.

Omar, a migrant on site, said when police attacked the camp Tuesday with tear gas, many migrants lost patience and resorted to throwing stones and 'fighting back' to defend the last place they can call home: their plastic tents and valuable belongings.

When the chaos erupted, dozens of migrants fled the site hurrying to the nearby USA embassy to seek shelter and protection. Most of them were arrested before reaching their destination, according to sources from the site.

The camp was home to over one hundred migrants, mainly from Sudan and Nigeria. Most of them were kicked out of their homes and sacked from their jobs after the infamous Presidential speech that triggered an ongoing wave of anti-migration in the state.

Authorities arrested Tuesday 80 migrants. Lawyers and activists are still investigating where they have been taken.

The camp outside @UNHCR Tunis is completely destroyed. Apparently most people have fled or been arrested just a few women and children left. There are still police around. Lawyers are investigating where those arrested have been taken. Many of whom are registered refugees pic.twitter.com/zM2oLBWQsa

— Elizia Volkmann (@EliziaVolkmann) April 11, 2023

Interior Ministry spokesman Faker Bouzghaya said the police intervened at the request of the UNHCR as their staff was unable to work due to the migrants blocking the entrance to their building and 80 migrants had been detained.

Later on Tuesday, UNHCR said the police intervention took place after "some refugees, asylum seekers and migrants forcibly entered its premises, causing some material damage."

The UN agency said they were holding talks with protestors and providing information on possible solutions and also on "the limitations, particularly regarding humanitarian evacuations and resettlement from Tunisia."

"UNHCR is collaborating closely with the Tunisian government and various partners (...) to address the ongoing challenges and grievances faced by the protestors, with a particular focus on the wellbeing of women and children," added the UNHCR's press release.