Dozens of Burkina Faso nationals in Tunisia have been repatriated back home in the wake remarks weeks ago by President Kais Saied against sub-Saharan African migrants.
Mr Saied said the migrants were part of a conspiracy to change the country’s demographic composition, which triggered racially motivated abuse and violence against them.
On Wednesday, 64 passengers arrived at Burkina Faso’s capital on a government-chartered plane.
They were welcomed by emotional relatives along with some government officials.
Minister Karamoko Jean Marie Traore is quoted by the AFP news agency as saying it was the government’s responsibility “to look out for the security and well-being of its citizens”.
He said this was the first contingent of people to arrive and that other groups would return through other arrangements.