Congolese-born French rapper Maitre Gims has cancelled a concert in Tunisia that was scheduled for 11 August.

In an Instagram story, the rapper cited the mistreatment of migrants for the cancellation saying: “Children, women, men expelled from Tunisia to Libya, live in inhumane conditions. I cannot maintain my visit to Tunisia.”

Dozens of sub-Saharan migrants were recently rescued by Libyan guards in a desert area along the border between Libya and Tunisia. The migrants reported that they had been abandoned there without any provisions of water, food, or shelter after arriving from Tunisia.

Tunisia has become a major departure point for migrants attempting to make the perilous journey across the Mediterranean to Europe.

In recent months, black migrants in Tunisia have faced violent attacks as the environment has grown increasingly hostile towards them.

Tunisia's President, Kais Saied, has previously made accusations against migrants, suggesting they were involved in a "plot" to alter the country's demographic profile and accused some of being "traitors" working for foreign countries. However, he later denied any racist intent behind his remarks.