By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The umbrella body of National Bar Associations across Africa, the African Bar Association (AfBA), has condemned recent violent attacks on African migrants in Tunisia sparked by xenophobic remarks by the country’s President, Kais Saied.
In a statement on Tuesday titled, “The African Bar Association Condems Tunisian Xenophobic and Racial Attacks on African Migrants; Ask the African Union to Call the Tunisian President- Kais Saied and Government to Order,” AfBA through its Director of Strategic Communications, Douglas Ogbankwa said the attacks negates the Treaty of the African Union.
Ogbankwa quoted the President of the AfBA, Hannibal Uwaifo, to have reminded President Saied, Government and people of Tunisia that as signatory to many International Conventions and Treaties, that guarantee free movements of persons and international humanitarian rights, they are obligatory to honour the content of those treaties.
The statement partly read, “The African Bar Association observes with dismay the xenophobic and racial attacks on migrant Africans in Tunisia. The AfBA finds that ironically the queer attacks are products of state irresponsibility tied to violence simulating comments of the Tunisian President, Kais Saied.
“AfBA reminds the Tunisia President, Government and people that Tunisia is a signatory to many International Conventions and Treaties, that guarantee free movements of persons and international humanitarian rights.
“AfBA finds it distasteful that the Tunisian Government and People are xenophobic and racial in a free world that is now essentially a global village.
“It is the desire of AfBA that Africans should strive towards a borderless Continent that is visa free and characterised by common ties, common interests and common trade, in keeping with the tenets of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA).
“The actions of the Tunisian Government on this issue, negates the Treaty of the African Union, which is predicated on regional integration, free movement of persons/goods, regional trade and regional cooperation. We call on other Member States of the African Union (AU) and the African Union Commission to call the Tunisian President and Government to Order.
“AfBA states that the uniqueness of Africa as a continent, is not in the colour of our skins or the tenets of our religions, it is in African Spirit which bears no discrimination to colour or creed, but finds expression in our communal spirit, common ties, common interests and common goals.”
