On the occasion of International Women’s Rights Day, two Ivorian women living in Tunisia spoke to RFI about their experiences after President Kaïs Saïed’s remarks about sub-Saharan migrants, a speech that made migrants feel unsafe.
Dominique and Sonia, aged 34 and 30 respectively, have been living in Tunisia since 2019, one is a nurse, and the other works for an association.
Sonia described to the French media how difficult and full of obstacles the beginning was because there was mistreatment. There was contempt and exploitation, which made her change jobs every time.
Dominique, on her part, said that she had endured racism, and mistreatment on the bus and in the street, but she had resisted because she needed to work.
Dominique, who still does not have her resistance card, is still hesitating about whether to stay or return to her country, but she says that if things get any more complicated, she would be forced to return to her country.
Despite the attempt by the Tunisian presidency at the weekend to appease her, Sonia says the damage has already been done and she still feels unsafe.