Among the 300 candidates for clandestine migration arrested, 210 are from sub-Saharan Africa and 90 migrants are Tunisians, according to a statement from the General Directorate of the National Guard
Six irregular migration attempts were foiled and 300 sub-Saharan and Tunisian migrants were arrested overnight, Tunisian authorities announced on Friday.
In a succinct statement accompanied by a video recording, the General Directorate of the National Guard (Gendarmerie) indicated “that a patrol of the Maritime National Guard of Sfax (south) foiled six attempts to illicitly cross the maritime borders, on the night of Wednesday to Thursday”.
“During this operation, about 210 individuals (irregular migrants) from sub-Saharan Africa, and 90 Tunisians, were arrested,” said the General Directorate of the National Guard, under the Tunisian Ministry of the Interior.
The Tunisian authorities indicated on August 16 that 18 irregular migration attempts were foiled in one night, while 630 people, including 80 Tunisians, were rescued.
On July 16, the Presidency of the Republic of Tunisia announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding on a strategic and comprehensive partnership between Tunisia and the European Union in several areas such as economic and commercial cooperation and the fight against irregular migration. The agreement between the two parties is estimated at more than 834 million dollars.
Some areas of the Tunisian coast are less than 150 km from the Italian island of Lampedusa. Tunisia has experienced a remarkable increase in irregular migratory flows towards Europe since the beginning of 2023, particularly towards the Italian coasts, in the light of the repercussions of the economic and political crises in the country and the armed conflicts which are ravaging several other African countries.
The southeast coasts of Tunisia are frequently the scene of rescue operations for migrants, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa. Other migrants have died or gone missing after their boats sank.
