Hundreds of Tunisians took to the streets outside the offices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Tunis to protest what they describe as rising illegal immigration and growing pressure on the country’s resources and public services.
Protesters gathered on Saturday at midday outside the headquarters of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the Lac district of Tunis, demanding the deportation of undocumented sub-Saharan African migrants and calling on the organization to leave Tunisia.
Among the participants were activists who were seen organizing demonstrators before joining the protest.
The demonstration took place under a heavy security presence, with numerous security vehicles surrounding the UNHCR headquarters and protesters kept at a distance from the building.
As the protest drew to a close, some activists were seen standing opposite the heavily secured headquarters before leaving the area together as security forces remained deployed around the compound.
Migration is a sensitive issue in Tunisia, a key transit point for tens of thousands of people seeking to reach Europe each year.
In February 2023, President Kais Saied said “hordes of illegal migrants”, many from sub-Saharan Africa, posed a demographic threat to the Arab-majority country.
His speech triggered a series of racially motivated attacks as thousands of sub-Saharan African migrants in Tunisia were pushed out of their homes and jobs.
Thousands were repatriated or attempted to cross the Mediterranean, while others were expelled to the desert borders with Algeria and Libya, where at least a hundred died that summer.
The demonstrators gathered near the UNHCR headquarters, carrying banners and chanting slogans demanding stricter immigration controls and a stronger response to irregular migration. Protesters also called on the UN refugee agency to leave the country, accusing it of encouraging the continued presence of undocumented migrants in Tunisia.
The demonstrations come amid growing debates across parts of Africa and Europe over migration, border security, and the management of refugee populations. Similar anti-immigration protests have recently been reported in South Africa and Libya, where concerns over unemployment, crime, and pressure on public services have fueled public frustration.
Many of the protesters argued that Tunisia is facing increasing economic challenges and that authorities must prioritize the welfare of Tunisian citizens. Others called for stronger cooperation between the government and international organizations to address migration issues while maintaining national security.
The UNHCR has not yet issued a detailed response to the latest demonstrations. However, the agency has consistently maintained that its role is to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to refugees and asylum seekers in accordance with international law.
Human rights groups have urged calm and called for balanced solutions that address both the concerns of local communities and the rights of migrants and refugees. They warn that growing anti-immigration sentiment could increase tensions and place vulnerable populations at greater risk.
The protests highlight the increasingly complex challenges facing countries along key migration routes, as governments seek to balance humanitarian obligations with economic and security concerns.
