Tunisia: Eight migrants die, dozens rescued after boat capsizes

Eight migrants of various nationalities died and 29 others were rescued after their boat capsized off the coast of Sfax in central Tunisia, officials confirmed on Monday (April 28).

The incident occurred early Sunday in waters near the city of Abwabed, a well-known departure point for migrants attempting the perilous journey to Europe.

According to Houcem Eddine Jebabli, a spokesperson for the Tunisian National Guard, all those on board were foreign nationals, including individuals from sub-Saharan Africa.

Search operations continue for any missing persons who may have been on the boat when it sank.

Tunisia – a Mediterranean transit hub

Tunisia has increasingly become a key transit hub for migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean — the Italian island of Lampedusa is just 150 kilometers (90 miles) away.

Thousands of migrants — many fleeing conflict, poverty, or political instability — have used Tunisia as a launching point for their journeys north.

Earlier this month, authorities began dismantling informal camps near Sfax, which had housed thousands of sub-Saharan migrants. Many of these migrants now find themselves stranded as European Union (EU) policies aimed at stemming irregular migration tighten.

Italy tightens Tunisian borders

In 2023, Tunisia signed a 255 million euros (290 million US dollars) agreement with the EU, nearly half of which was designated to combat irregular migration. Backed by Italy’s right-wing government, the deal seeks to strengthen Tunisia’s border controls and reduce the number of boats leaving its shores.

According to Frontex, the EU’s border monitoring agency, irregular crossings on the central Mediterranean route declined by 64 percent through September last year. Still, the dangers for migrants remain high, with frequent shipwrecks and fatalities reported along the route.

Tunisian President Kais Saied recently urged the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to expedite voluntary return programs for irregular migrants, signalling a continued hardline stance as Tunisia struggles with the growing humanitarian and political pressures of the migrant situation.

With Reuters and AFP