Instead of migrating to EU, Tunisians build new lives in southern Africa
With Europe increasingly reluctant to take in job-seeking migrants, many Tunisians are moving to sub-Saharan countries for work.
With Europe increasingly reluctant to take in job-seeking migrants, many Tunisians are moving to sub-Saharan countries for work.
Mohamed Ali Chelbi, a young goalkeeper from the Tunisian team CS Sfaxien, made headlines when he chose to board a migrant boat to Italy at the weekend.
Tunisian coast guards returned more than 250 migrants who were attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Italy, the North African country's National Guard said on Sunday.
Italy’s anti-immigration former interior minister, Matteo Salvini, has warned that his country will not host "the refugee camp of Europe" as he visited the island of Lampedusa on a campaign stop for elections in September.
After waiting for around one week, 380 people rescued from the Mediterranean by the humanitarian organization SOS Mediterranee have been allowed to land in Italy. The rescue ship Ocean Viking was granted permission to make port at Salerno, south of Naples.
Amnesty International denounced the fact that "since president Kaïs Saïed power grab on 25 July, 2021" the condition of human rights in Tunisia "has significantly regressed". The NGO asks for the repeal of all measures that do not respect and uphold human rights standards.
The Italian rapper of Tunisian origin, known as Ghali, has launched a fundraiser for the Mare Jonio ship operated by Mediterranea Saving Humans.
The Tunisian coast guard reported on July 18 that it had rescued a total of 455 migrants the previous night. The Mediterranean nation has been sprucing up its efforts to fight irregular migration.
The crew of the Geo Barents said it has rescued 71 migrants in the Central Mediterranean. At least one person reportedly died and 22 people remain missing. Meanwhile, the Sea-Watch 4 has been given the green light to disembark more than 300 rescued migrants in Italy; and 59 rescued migrants have left the Louise Michel.
A Tunisian human rights group has denounced the dismantlement of a migrant and refugee sit-in protest outside the UNHCR offices in the Tunisian capital on Saturday. The UNHCR says it was part of an agreed transfer with protestors.
Nearly 950 undocumented Tunisian migrants, including 354 minors, arrived in Italy in the month of May, reports an NGO in Tunisia. That's an increase of more than 50% on last year's numbers.
In the last few days, Tunisian authorities have recovered the bodies of at least 16 migrants. On Monday, the coast guard said it had retrieved the bodies of four migrants.