TUNIS: Thirteen Sudanese migrants were reported dead on Thursday when their boat capsized off the coast of Tunisia, with 27 others still missing, confirmed a court spokesperson to AFP.
Farid Ben Jha, representing the court in Monastir, said that only two survivors emerged from the ordeal among the 42 migrants aboard the vessel that departed from Jebiniana, near Sfax.
An investigation has been initiated into the incident, with suspicions arising regarding potential human trafficking or involvement in illegal migration operations targeting Europe.
The victims, all asylum seekers from Sudan, had been registered with the United Nations refugee agency. Initial findings from the investigation revealed that they embarked on a perilous journey aboard a fragile makeshift boat constructed from hastily welded scraps.
Efforts are underway to locate the missing passengers as the search operation continues.
Irregular Migrants from Tunisia and Libya
Tunisia and Libya remain primary departure points for thousands of irregular migrants annually, risking perilous journeys across the Mediterranean Sea in pursuit of better prospects in Europe.
In 2023’s first 11 months, Tunisian authorities intercepted 69,963 irregular migrants, marking a stark increase from the preceding year, according to data provided by the National Guard.
The perils of such voyages were underscored by the International Organization for Migration, reporting over 2,270 deaths in attempts to cross the central Mediterranean in 2023, representing a 60 percent surge from the previous year.
