TUNIS: At least 12 Tunisians, including three children, were found dead after a migrant boat capsized off the southeastern island of Djerba on Monday, according to a judicial official.
The boat sank at dawn, and 29 individuals were rescued, reported Fethi Baccouche, spokesman for the Medenine court. Among those killed in the tragedy were five men and four women, while the cause of the sinking remains unknown.
The Tunisian National Guard was alerted by four migrants who managed to swim back to shore. Local reports say that the boat was carrying around 60 passengers, although the number of those still missing is unclear. Tunisian media stated that the migrants had departed from the Ras Rmel Hachana peninsula in northern Djerba, aiming for the Italian island of Lampedusa.
Tunisia, along with neighboring Libya, has become a significant departure point for migrants seeking better opportunities in Europe, often risking perilous Mediterranean crossings. This exodus is driven by Tunisia’s stagnant economy, which experienced only 0.4 percent growth in 2023, coupled with rising unemployment.
The country has also been destabilized by political tensions following President Kais Saied’s power consolidation in July 2021. Each year, tens of thousands attempt to cross the Mediterranean, with Lampedusa—just 150 kilometers (90 miles) away—frequently being their initial destination.
Since January 1, the Tunisian rights group FTDES has documented at least 400 migrant deaths and disappearances in shipwrecks off Tunisia, with more than 1,300 fatalities reported last year. The International Organization for Migration estimates that over 30,309 migrants have died in the Mediterranean over the past decade, including more than 3,000 in 2022 alone.
In the summer of 2023, the European Union and Tunisia signed a “strategic partnership” agreement, providing 105 million euros in aid in exchange for Tunisia’s efforts to curb irregular immigration. Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi recently noted that Tunisia has “prevented the departure of more than 61,000 migrants” this year, emphasizing the commitment of countries involved in combating irregular migration.
However, critics, including FTDES spokesman Romdhane Ben Amor, argue that Tunisia’s approach focuses more on interception than rescue, stating that the EU has supplied Tunisia with extensive financial and logistical support to enforce this policy.
