At least fifteen migrants lost their lives off Tunisia's coast and on the Algerian border this week, highlighting the escalating humanitarian crisis in the region. The Tunisian coast guard recovered thirteen bodies and rescued twenty-five individuals off Sfax, a key departure point for perilous Mediterranean crossings. Sfax has also witnessed recent clashes between residents and migrants following the death of a Tunisian man, leading to deportations to border areas.
Hundreds of migrants were previously stranded in a precarious no-man's-land between Tunisian and Libyan border patrols. While a Red Crescent operation brought them back to Tunisia, their future remains uncertain. Two more migrant deaths were reported on the Tunisian-Algerian border, with local investigations underway amid reports of potentially higher casualties.
The International Organization for Migration has recorded a staggering number of deaths and disappearances on the central Mediterranean route this year. Tunisia's economic woes, including high debt, inflation, and unemployment, are fueling the exodus of both Tunisians and other African migrants. European leaders are scheduled to meet with Tunisian President Kais Saied to discuss aid and border control measures, following a recent EU aid offer exceeding $1 billion.
This aid package aims to bolster Tunisia's economy and strengthen border security to curb migrant crossings. However, President Saied's earlier rhetoric against sub-Saharan African migrants has raised concerns about racial tensions and the treatment of vulnerable populations.
