Two West African states Ivory Coast and Guinea are repatriating their citizens from Tunisia following inflammatory remarks by President Kais Saied last week.

Mr Saied said that illegal migration was causing demographic change in Tunisia, and accused “illegal hordes” of being behind rising crime.

Dozens of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa have since been detained.

Ivory Coast and Guinea said they were sending specially charted planes to bring back their nationals.

While local rights activist accused Mr Saied of “inciting hatred” and “racial discrimination against African migrants”, Mr Saied has denied being racist.

After his comments, many migrants lost their jobs and housing overnight. Some have reported being physically assaulted.