Tunisia's Saied orders ambassadors to thwart defamation by 'colonial campaigns'

Tunisia's President Kais Saied has called on the country's ambassadors to thwart the anti-nationalist colonial defamation campaigns against Tunis, seemingly hinting at the recent backlash over the country's migration policies.

During a ceremony held Friday, 4 August, at the Palace of Carthage, Saied presented four new ambassadors with their credentials, including Yassine El Oued, Tunisia's new Ambassador in London. 

The Tunisian President took this opportunity to remind the new ambassadors to defend Tunisia's sovereignty and treat the countries in which they will have to carry out their mission "as equals."

"Don't forget to defend the just causes as Tunisia is working to ensure a new humanist world order and feeling the pain of all oppressed people on earth," he said

"(...) and confront defamation campaigns from the colonial circles, which don't accept the existence of any nationalist state," he added.

The President's speech hints at the recent migration crisis in Tunisia's borders with Libya and Algeria, which Saied's cabinet categorically denies.

Last week, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's spokesman called for Tunisia to stop expelling migrants into desert border areas and demanded that those stranded in the harsh environment be relocated.

Since 3 July, Tunisia has reportedly deported over 1000 black migrants to buffer military zone areas leaving them to fund themselves in the scorching Sahara. 

Libyan guards said they found at least five dead bodies of migrants dumped by Tunisian authorities in the borders area, including a woman and her daughter whose story drew more attention to the escalating crisis.

"The allegations about expulsion operations are unfounded," Interior Minister Kamel Fekih said last week.

In February, President Saied accused "hordes" of migrants from sub-Saharan African countries of a "plot" to change the country's demographic makeup, echoing the ideas of the far-right "Grand Remplacement theory."

The anti-black migrants' racism arose in the country since then, leading to the death of a Tunisian man in clashes with migrants last month.

Amid the crisis, The European Union (EU) signed a memorandum of understanding with Tunisia for a "strategic and comprehensive partnership" on irregular migration and economic development.

The MoU's text did not guarantee rights or protection for the Sub-Saharan migrants living in Tunisia who have been pledging for the West's help since Kais Saied's infamous "Grand Remplacement" speech.