Following the racist violence in Tunisia, about sixty Burkinabe arrived on Wednesday afternoon in Ouagadougou.
Out of a total of 128 volunteers returning home, 64 Burkinabe repatriated from Tunisia have set foot on the tarmac of Ouagadougou airport, an APA journalist reported on Wednesday evening.
As they got off the plane, with closed expressions on their faces, small suitcases and bags in hand, they ranted and struggled to evoke memories of the racist violence in Tunis.
“The president’s words (…) have made things worse. The attacks started everywhere, verbally and physically. Classmates spat on me,” lamented Hadja Traoré, a Burkinabe student in Tunisia who has been repatriated. On February 21, President Kais Saied declared during a National Security Council that the presence of sub-Saharan migrants on Tunisian soil is a source of insecurity and that it aims to transform Tunisia into an African country that no longer belongs to the “Arab-Muslim” world.
Moussa Sawadogo worked in Tunis as a bricklayer for about ten years. When the violence started, his hosts took everything from him. He said he was stripped of his possessions. “It was very difficult. I have brothers who are still in prison there,” he warned.
Now in his forties, Mr Sawadogo is hopeful that they will be given support so that they can start a new life.
The Minister for Regional Cooperation, Jean Marie Traoré, who came to welcome them, said that this was a first wave, made up in part of students. A second wave of repatriation is in sight, he said.
On March 12, the government had informed Burkina Faso nationals living in Tunisia that a special flight for their return is scheduled for March 15, 2023. 128 compatriots have volunteered to return home.
DS/ac/lb/APA