Today, we are looking at a striking and often overlooked reality: the condition of sub-Saharan migrants on the borders of Tunisia and Libya. These men and women, in their quest for a better life, find themselves confronted with extreme climatic conditions and often repressive migration policies.
The desert, arid and merciless, becomes the scene of their struggle for survival. The image of a sub-Saharan migrant trying to protect himself from the relentless sun resonates like a silent cry for help, symbolizing the distress and vulnerability of an entire population on the move.
The political and social context only makes this situation more worrying. Indeed, the NGO Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES) recently denounced the criminalization of aid to migrants in Tunisia, as well as the discriminatory treatment reserved for sub-Saharan migrants. The latter, already facing marginalization and precariousness, are now exposed to increased risks due to repressive policies.
Despite these monumental challenges, Tunisian public opinion seems to be little sensitive to the cause of migrants. Socio-economic issues often take precedence over migration issues, relegating the latter to the background. However, it is imperative to remember that solidarity and respect for fundamental rights know no borders.
In this context, the mobilization of civil society is essential to make the voices of those who are too often silenced heard. Activists and defenders of migrants’ rights find themselves targeted, victims of repression and intimidation aimed at silencing them.
It is high time to recognize the rights of migrants and put an end to the violations they are subjected to. The immediate release of the defenders of migrants’ rights, unjustly imprisoned, is a moral and political imperative.
Ultimately, the issue of migration cannot be separated from human rights and social justice issues. It is our duty, as civil society and as individuals, to mobilize to ensure a more just and united future for all, regardless of our place of origin.
In a world marked by divisions and inequalities, solidarity and empathy are our most precious weapons. It is time to brandish them with strength and determination, so that the dignity and rights of migrants are finally respected.