'Meloni is persona non-grata': Tunisian activists protest Italy's anti-migration PM visit

"Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is persona non-grata," chanted dozens of Tunisian activists and families of migrants on Tuesday as the controversial far-right, anti-migration politician landed in Tunis for a state visit to the North African state.

In the Tunisian capital, several activists and families who lost their relatives in the Mediterranean rallied against the Italian leader whose brutal anti-immigration policies, they argue, will lead to more fatalities and illegal deportations among migrants.

"Meloni is not welcome because she leads anti-immigrant policies in Italy, restricts the work of humanitarian organisations in the Mediterranean, practices forced deportation and violates the rights and dignity of all immigrants, especially Tunisians,"  Ramadan Ben Omar, spokesperson of Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES), said The New Arab.

A right-wing politician, Meloni has made fighting migration the core of her political agenda since she was on the opposition benches.

Elected last September, she wasted little time in setting the new government's tone on immigration. On 4 November, the country closed its ports to rescue ships, blocking more than a thousand migrants, and since then Meloni's stance hasn't softened.

After visiting neighbouring Libya, a hot spot of migration to Italy, Meloni came Tuesday to Tunisia to discuss the country's endeavour to secure an IMF loan and further co-ordination in their migration policies. The two issues are immensely tied together.

Italy is concerned that without the funds, Tunisia could face a financial crisis that could lead to more migrants crossing the Mediterranean and attempting to reach its shores, Reuters reported.

Loan talks between Tunisia and the IMF stalled months ago after President Kais Saied rejected proposed terms that were key to the deal and he suggested instead taxing the rich to solve the country's economic crisis.

Nevertheless, President Saied, not a big fan of migrants himself, warmly welcomed Meloni to the Carthage Presidential Palace.

"You are a woman that says out loud what others think about in silence," Saied told Meloni before gathered journalists.

On the other hand, Miloni said Italy will continue to push to support Tunisia by launching financing plans "to support Tunisian efforts to support its socioeconomic crisis."

However, Ramadan Ben Omar argues that the perks Meloni promises Tunis are only "crumbs" to blackmail Tunisia to do its dirty work in controlling borders and helping with illegal deportations.

"Italy views Tunisia as an advanced border point, and not as a fully sovereign country to impose fair and complementary cooperation," added the Tunisian activist.

In 2020, Tunisia and Italy signed a "phantom migration deal". Its details were never revealed, and the deal will reportedly end this November. Meloni's Tuesday visit may be to conclude a tougher and sketchier agreement, speculates activist Ben Omar.

More than 20,000 boat migrants have arrived in Italy so far in 2023, a trend that threatens the all-time record set in 2016 when 181,436 people reached the country, mostly in flimsy vessels. 

According to United Nations data, at least 12,000 of those who have reached Italy this year set sail from Tunisia, against 1,300 in the same period of 2022.

Meanwhile, more than 200 people have drowned in a series of shipwrecks since the start of the year. Dozens more remain missing off Tunisia's coast after the sinking of multiple boats this year.