Speaking at an international conference on migration in Rome, Tunisian President Kais Saied called on economically developed countries to redirect their focus towards preventing hunger in Africa instead of selling arms to the continent. He criticized the approach of selling weapons to African states, stating that "it exacerbates tensions and fuels conflicts".
"The current migration crisis is a logical consequence of the preceding migratory flows under occupation and colonialism," Saied stated, underscoring the historical context contributing to illegal migration from African countries to Europe.
"It would be more reasonable and appropriate to use the funds wasted on the arms trade to prevent famine in Africa," Saied said.
He further stressed that "true security and stability cannot be achieved without examining the real causes of inequality and security challenges in the region." In his view, the ongoing irregular migration crisis "has become a heartbreaking human tragedy over the years."
According to international organizations, the route from the Tunisian coast towards European Union countries remains one of the most frequently used paths for irregular migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea.
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Photo: dpa/picture-alliance/TASS
Based on materials from TASS