A migration expert with the University of Ghana has expressed concern about Tunisia’s president’s call for a crackdown on migrants from sub-Saharan Africa.

Recall, President Kais Saied delivered a controversial speech on February 21 denouncing undocumented sub-Saharan African immigration to his country, saying that it was aimed at changing Tunisia’s demographic makeup.

While the Africa Union has condemned the statement, sub-Saharan migrants, many of them from West Africa continue to face harassment and various forms of abuse.

Already, some 300 West African migrants were set to leave Tunisia on repatriation flights Saturday, and thousands more are set to leave in the coming days and weeks.

Director of the Center of Migration at the University of Ghana, Dr Mary Boatemaa Setrana says migrant protection is key, hence governments in the sub-region should focus on protecting and repatriating their citizens.