TUNISIANS: MORE EU MONEY TO KEEP AFRICANS OUT? NO THANKS!

Italy’s Georgia Meloni was in Tunisia on Wednesday for talks on curbing cross-Mediterranean migration. It was her fourth visit in less than a year. Among the agreements signed was a promise for 50-million euros in aid. It comes on top of last July’s splurge - 150-million euros for curbing migration and another 150-million euros for budgetary support for the debt-ridden country.

Europe’s externalisation of its borders - which has also included deals with Libya and Morocco - has benefitted corrupt government officials and traffickers, while exposing migrants to exploitation. There have been allegations of endemic police abuse, including extortion, violence and sexual assault.

Arrested migrants have been fined and deported for illegal entry - without regard to whether returning them to their countries would put them at risk of torture or imprisonment, which is a violation of the UN’s Refugee Convention.

Tunisia last year forcibly drove more than 1,000 Africans into the desert, with reports numerous abandoned migrants died from heat and thirst.

Ultimately, the root causes of cross-Med migration remain unaddressed. Most make the dangerous journey to Europe in search of opportunities unavailable back home. The reason for poverty back home is European imperialism - from slavery and colonisation, to today’s neo-colonialism.

As Walter Rodney opined, the development of Europe was built on the underdevelopment of Africa. What Africa needs is reparations, not financial carrots to incentivise corrupt governments to do Europe’s policing for them.

Many Tunisians are unhappy about Rabat’s deals with the EU - and came out to protest Meloni’s latest visit. In this clip, one of them speaks his mind.

Do you agree with his sentiment?