Local authorities in Tunisia have reported that at least 23 people are missing after attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea towards Europe. The Tunisian National Guard confirmed that it had informed the navy, and search and rescue operations are currently underway to locate the missing individuals.
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The group set sail overnight between May 3 and 4 from the city of Nabeul. Relatives of the missing contacted authorities only ten days later, causing a delay in search and rescue operations.
The National Guard responsible for overseeing the coastguard has initiated searches. Acting on orders from prosecutors in Nabeul, five individuals allegedly involved in organizing the crossing have been arrested. Two of the missing migrants are reportedly related to some of these organizers.
On Saturday, the National Guard recovered four bodies after intercepting two separate crossing attempts to Europe. In addition, 52 migrants were rescued near the city of Sfax, a main departure point for Italy.
The National Guard did not specify the nationalities of the recovered bodies or the rescued migrants. A press release from Benin’s foreign ministry stated that a boat carrying approximately 50 migrants of various nationalities including from Benin, capsized on the night of May 16 to 17 off the coast.
The statement highlighted the assessment of the loss of human life and search efforts to identify the bodies. It remains unclear if this shipwreck is connected to the incident reported by the National Guard.
Tunisia is a departure point for migrants attempting perilous sea journeys to Europe. The Mediterranean crossing is known to be one of the deadliest migration routes in the world.
According to the Tunisian Forum for Social and Economic Rights (FTDES), more than 1,300 migrants died or disappeared in shipwrecks last year.
Reports indicate a 22.5% increase in migrant interceptions, with over 21,000 people prevented from leaving Tunisia or rescued during the first four months of 2024.
From January 1 to April 30, the National Guard intercepted 21,545 individuals compared to 17,576 during the same period last year.
This surge in interceptions follows agreements between Tunisia, the European Union, and Italy, which include financial aid and economic cooperation in exchange for Tunisia’s commitment to curbing migrant departures.
Tunisia has been struggling with economic challenges including an unemployment rate exceeding 16% in 2023, as reported by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
This economic strain drives both citizens and migrants from sub-Saharan Africa to seek better opportunities in Europe.
The country has also experienced political instability after President Kais Saied’s power grab in July 2021.
Migrants arriving in Tunisia come from various regions primarily from impoverished and conflict-ridden areas of sub-Saharan Africa.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reports that over 12,000 people are registered as refugees and asylum seekers in Tunisia.
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In addition to foreign nationals many Tunisians also attempt to migrate to Europe. In 2023, 17,000 irregular Tunisian migrants arrived in Italy, often originating from working-class areas including the industrial zones around Sfax.
The number of Tunisians attempting such crossings is second only to Guineans, with 18,204 arrivals in Italy last year. In February 2023, 17 Tunisians disappeared after setting sail for Italy on a fishing boat.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports that since 2023, approximately 3,000 migrants and asylum seekers are known to have drowned in the central Mediterranean, though the actual number is likely higher.
In the first 11 months of 2023 the National Guard intercepted nearly 70,000 irregular migrants and asylum seekers with 77.5% having traveled to Tunisia from other African countries.
The increase in interceptions and efforts to curb migration are due to international agreements. The European Union and Italy have provided financial aid and economic cooperation to Tunisia urging the nation to reduce migrant departures.
Tunisia is a departure point for migrants seeking to reach Europe. This North African nation has seen a surge in the number of people attempting the perilous journey across the Mediterranean Sea, often fleeing conflict, poverty, and political instability in the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa.
UN data reveals that at least 12,000 migrants who landed on Italy’s shores in the previous year had departed from Tunisia.
The central Mediterranean Sea remains one of the world’s deadliest migration routes, with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reporting approximately 3,000 drownings in 2023.
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In February 2024, a boat carrying Sudanese nationals sank off Tunisia’s coast resulting in the deaths of at least 13 people and leaving 27 others missing.
A similar incident occurred earlier in February when 17 Tunisians went missing after setting sail towards Italy. The European Union (EU) has been actively working with Tunisia to curb irregular migration.
In 2023, the EU signed a deal with Tunisia worth €1 billion (£855,870) planning at tackling migrant smuggling, enhancing border security, and facilitating the return of migrants.
The agreement includes $118 million (£90 million) allocated for anti-smuggling efforts and border strengthening.
The deal has led to increased measures by authorities to control migrant departures. In 2023 alone, National Guard intercepted nearly 70,000 irregular migrants and asylum seekers, 77.5% of whom had traveled from various parts of Africa.
Tunisia faces socioeconomic challenges including a high unemployment rate exceeding 16% as reported by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Economic hardship has driven many Tunisian nationals to seek better opportunities in Europe. In early May 2024, several activists were arrested for allegedly providing aid to migrants.
Authorities in Tunis cleared encampments of migrants near the headquarters of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the IOM, resulting in clashes with law enforcement and the arrest of over 80 migrants.
Migration remains a politically divisive issue within the EU. The bloc’s member states have struggled to find a unified approach to handling the influx of migrants and asylum seekers.
The EU endorsed reforms under the New Pact on Migration and Asylum. These reforms plan to establish clear procedures for handling unauthorized arrivals from screening to potential deportation. The full implementation of these reforms is not expected until 2026.
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