Hundreds of West African migrants are preparing to flee Tunisia after President Kais Saied delivered a controversial tirade last month against irregular migration. In his February 21 speech, Saied ordered officials to take “urgent measures” to tackle irregular migration, claiming without evidence that “a criminal plot” was underway “to change Tunisia’s demographic makeup”. The African Union expressed “deep shock and concern at the form and substance” of Saied’s remarks, while governments in sub-Saharan Africa scrambled to organise the repatriation of hundreds of fearful nationals who flocked to their embassies for help. Some 300 West African migrants were set to leave Tunisia on repatriation flights Saturday, fearing for their safety since President Kais Saied delivered a controversial tirade last month.