At least 29 sub-Saharan migrants have died after at least two boats sank off Tunisia’s coast in their attempt to cross the Mediterranean and reach Italy.
The tragedy is the latest in a series of migrant boat capsizes off Tunisia’s coast in the last few days, with five others sinking in the past four days. According to UN figures, at least 12,000 migrants who landed on Italy’s shores this year left from Tunisia, compared to just 1,300 in the same period last year.
However, Tunisia’s coast guard says it is taking steps to stop the migrant crossings, having halted around 80 vessels headed for Europe in the past four days, and detained more than 3,000 migrants.
Tunisia’s president, Kais Saied, caused controversy last month when he accused sub-Saharan African migrants living in the country of causing a crime wave and described them as a demographic threat. His comments were widely criticised by the African Union and denounced as “racist hate speech” by human rights groups.
The situation in Tunisia has led some sub-Saharan Africans living in the country to fear for their safety, with some reporting an increase in racist incidents. This has led some countries, such as Ivory Coast and Guinea, to repatriate their citizens due to an increased climate of intolerance in Tunisia.
Tunisia’s economy is in a poor state and is facing a crisis after negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) stalled. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned that Tunisia urgently needs to reach a bailout deal with the IMF.
