In the aftermath of the Tunisian president’s speech, which was deemed racist against sub-Saharan migrants, several African capitals rushed to the aid of their nationals who had now been attacked in Tunisia with a view to their repatriation.
This is the case of the authorities in Conakry who welcomed, on Wednesday 1 March, some 49 Guinean compatriots who decided to leave Tunisia after statements by Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed deemed “hostile” to the presence of sub-Saharan nationals. This is the first repatriation flight to Guinea. And an air bridge between Conakry and Tunis has been set up by the Guinean authorities for the return of other volunteers.
“We are setting up an airlift. That was the first convo and there will be more convoys until all Guineans come home. We have applied exactly the doctrine of the Head of State: a Guinean abroad is equal to all the people of Guinea,” said Foreign Minister Morissanda Kouyate who made the trip with the returnees.
In addition, in Abidjan, the Council of Ministers on Wednesday 1 March 2023, decided on an operation to repatriate 500 Ivorians currently living in Tunisia. In addition, in Abidjan, the Council of Ministers on Wednesday 1 March 2023, decided on an operation to repatriate 500 Ivorians currently living in Tunisia. Thus, out of a total of 725 Ivorians registered by the Ivory Coast embassy in Tunisia, 500 have indicated their desire to return home. Air Ivory Coast has been commissioned to carry out these returns, and the first plane is scheduled to depart in the early hours of Saturday 4 March.
In Bamako, the authorities have also chartered a plane to transport 150 Malian nationals. The plane will also leave Tunis early on Saturday. These are the first repatriation flights to Ivory Coast and Mali since the Tunisian president’s speech.
These are the first repatriation flights to Ivory Coast and Mali since the Tunisian president’s speech.
