When Kembetia Bissa left the Democratic Republic of the Congo for Ireland in 2003, he found safety, friendships and a sense of belonging. The asylum seeker settled in Bandon, west Cork, worked as a landscaper and started an African dance school that introduced local residents to Congolese rhythms. “It was very positive, very welcoming. I felt like I was in my own country,” the 55-year-old said in Dublin this week. Attitudes have shifted. During a recent tram ride from Tallaght to the city centre, a white passenger stood and moved away when Bissa sat nearby. He described the incident as a sign that acceptance for some refugees and people of colour has faded. Recent events, including the death of 35-year-old Congolese man Yves Sakila, have sparked debate over race relations. On 15 May, store security guards pursued Sakila, suspected of shoplifting, and restrained him on Henry Street. Video showed one guard kneeling on his neck for several minutes. Police later found him unresponsive and took him to hospital, where he was declared dead. Officers continue to investigate, and Sakila’s family has asked for a second postmortem. Protesters argue that race was a factor, drawing comparisons to the 2020 death of George Floyd. Days earlier, former taoiseach Bertie Ahern was recorded expressing concern about immigration from African countries. The remarks came amid a local election campaign that highlighted hostility toward Black immigrants and Muslims, who are often blamed for crime and housing shortages. Far-right groups have amplified these claims, and there have been attacks on refugee centres and foreign nationals. Online comments about Sakila’s case frequently cited his criminal record and homelessness, with some calling for deportation. Traders near the incident site said media coverage ignored violence involving Black suspects against white victims and complained that protests received excessive attention. Others argued that new arrivals were taking housing meant for Irish citizens. Bissa linked rising hostility to rapid demographic change and poor integration. He estimated the Congolese population has doubled since 2022 to around 8,000. Between 2012 and 2022, more than 400,000 people arrived from abroad, and one-fifth of Ireland’s 5.1 million residents were born overseas. Activist Leon Diop said social media has spread disinformation that encourages racist views, despite Ireland’s own history of emigration. He suggested the traditional welcome of “100,000 welcomes” now feels closer to “75,000 welcomes.”
