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Tunisian President Kais Saied on Sunday rejected accusations of racism and warned perpetrators of racial attacks of legal consequences.

It came more than a week after he accused African migrants of being part of a conspiracy to change Tunisia’s demographic make-up amid a crackdown on migrants, sparking criticism by human rights groups.

Dozens of sub-Saharan African people have been subjected to detentions, abuse and evictions from their houses following the president’s remarks, rights groups have said.

On Sunday, protests were held in the capital calling for the release of arrested and detained opposition figures deemed critical of Mr Saied. The protesters also expressed their outrage against racism

Mr Saied has ruled the country by decree after dissolving parliament, dismissing the government and suspending the constitution in 2021.

On Sunday he said that the sources of the alleged racism campaign “are known” without elaborating.

He said Tunisia was an African country and “Africans are our brothers” while noting that the country was one of the founding states of the Organisation of African Unity which later became the African Union.

He also announced a relaxation of visa rules for African citizens.

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A court in Egypt has handed down jail sentences, ranging from life to five years' hard labour, to 30 people for involvement with the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.

Ayesha Khairat al-Shater and her husband were given 10 years each. Her father was the Muslim Brotherhood's first nominee for president in 2012 before he was replaced by Mohamed Morsi.

She was arrested in 2018 and charged with misuse of social media and promoting terrorist ideas.

Amnesty International and other rights groups had described her detention as arbitrary and campaigned for her release.

The State Security Criminal Court acquitted one woman.

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Thousands of Tunisians have gathered in central Tunis in defiance of an official ban on their protest against President Kais Saied, calling for him to release detained critics and retract his controversial remarks on migrants.

He recently blamed illegal immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa for violence and crime and said there was a plot to change the demographic composition of Tunisia.

Demonstrators shouted "down with the coup" - referring to the fact President Saied has been ruling by decree since September 2021, after dissolving parliament, suspending the constitution and dismissing the government.

"Stop racism and xenophobia" and "no to hate speech and discrimination" read some of the placards at Sunday's demonstration.

Meanwhile in Senegal, 13 activists and an MP have been released after being arrested for protesting outside the Tunisian embassy.

On Saturday they tried to hand over letters denouncing recent remarks by the Tunisian president that triggered a wave of violence and discrimination against black Africans.

In their letters the Senegalese protestors described his words as hateful and racist.

In recent days hundreds of nationals from West African countries have been repatriated after saying they no longer felt safe in Tunisia.

More on this topic:

• Black Africans in Tunisia speak out about their fears
• Tunisia tennis star Ons Jabeur urges 'dignity' amid row
• Tunisia arrests presidential critics in crackdown

The Prime Minister of Iraq, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, has arrived in Cairo to seek Egypt's help to repair dilapidated public services such as water and electricity supplies.

Four years ago, contaminated drinking water left thousands needing hospital treatment, and frequent power cuts led to nationwide protests which toppled the government.

Mr al-Sudani, who assumed office last October, will also try to attract Egyptian companies to invest in Iraq after years of sanctions and terror attacks.

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The Tunisian authorities have banned an opposition rally that was due to take place on Sunday.

Members of the opposition coalition that called it are suspected of crimes against the state.

A Tunisian official said the coalition’s request for the rally had "not been approved as some of its leaders are suspected of plotting against state security".

In the past month, the authorities have launched a wave of arrests of key figures including rivals and critics of President Kais Saied, with dozens of them held.

On Thursday, police arrested Sadok Chourou and Habib Ellouz - two senior officials of the main opposition party Ennahda.

The party said the arrests were meant to "terrorise the opposition" and called on Tunisians to join the planned protests.

The country has been in a deepening political and economic crisis, amid protests by Tunisians frustrated with the economy and against Mr Saied's near-total power.

In 2021, Mr Saied shut down the parliament and moved to rule by decree before rewriting Tunisia’s constitution.

AFPCopyright: AFP

Black Africans don’t feel safe in Tunisia because they have become a “target” because of their skin colour, a student from sub-Saharan Africa in Tunisia tells the BBC’s Africa Daily programme.

A woman, who only wanted to be identified as Mary, says that some people’s homes have been “set on fire”, others “beaten up,” and some have received verbal insults.

There are even taxi drivers who are refusing to drive black Africans, Mary continues.

Mary says the rise in racism comes after President Kais Saied last week said that illegal migration was a "plot" to cause demographic change in Tunisia, and accused "illegal hordes" of being behind rising crime.

Dozens of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa have since been detained, as Ivory Coast and Guinea say they are sending specially charted planes to bring back their nationals.

“It’s like you’re not welcome in your own continent,” Mary continues.

She says she has some Tunisian friends who have tried to support her, and intends to stay in the country just a few more months to finish her studies.

Read more about the race row in Tunisia here.

Or listen to the Africa Daily podcast here