Cameroonians in ‘unknown circumstances’ as African countries repatriate nationals from xenophobic Tunisia

By Tata Mbunwe

Mali and Ivory Coast are the latest Sub-Saharan African countries to repatriate their citizens from Tunisia following increasing attacks against black migrants in the country.

But the fate of Cameroonians remains unknown, as the government has remained indifferent to reports of rising attacks on blacks from other parts of Africa.

On Saturday, March 4, Mali’s Minister Defence, Sadio Camara, received 135 Malian nationals repatriated by a plane from Tunisia.

Similarly, Ivory Coast’s Prime Minister, Patrick Achi, and several Ministers received 145 citizens who were fleeing the xenophobic attacks in Tunisia.

Guinea’s military leader, Col. Mamady Doumbouya, also received about 50 of his countrymen on Thursday, March 2, and condemned the violence against black Africans as unacceptable.

Ivory Coast had said it will be bringing home about 500 of its citizens from Tunisia within the coming days.

Racist and Xenophobic attacks surfaced after Tunisian President Kais Saied, on February 21, said Sub-Saharan African migrants were responsible for the rising crime in the country.

He told the country’s police to root out “hoards” of Sub-Saharan African migrants that have flooded the country, adding that it was a plot to change the demographic composition of Tunisia and make it a completely black nation.

Last week, the BBC reported about increasing violence against black Africans as a result of the President’s statement.

Quoting a black African migrant living in Tunisia, the BBC said people’s homes have been set on fire and people beaten up, with some receiving verbal insults.

In some cases, Tunisian taxi drivers even refused carrying black Africans.

The AU criticised President Saied’s comments as completely racist, but he denied being racist, and insisted that he had only instructed the police to enforce Tunisian law.

An estimated 21,000 migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa live in Tunisia, stated infoMigrant, a migrant-focused news organisation.

Cameroonians in “unknown circumstances”

Hundreds of Cameroonians are estimated to be among Sub-Saharan African migrants living in Tunisia.

However, the Cameroon Government has maintained sealed lips over the fate of its citizens as other countries rush to rescue their nationals from harm.

Amid the Government’s silence, opposition party leader, Maurice Kamto, in a post on February 26 said Cameroonians are in “distress” and some are under “unknown circumstances” in Tunisia.

He prayed the government to assume its duty to protect Cameroonians, including those who are outside the national borders.

Mimi Mefo Info