Tunisian authorities forcibly expelled hundreds of sub-Saharan asylum-seekers, migrants, and refugees from makeshift encampments in the capital city of Tunis, according to a report from a non-governmental organization.
The Tunisian Forum for Social and Economic Rights (FTDES) stated that makeshift settlements, including those near the International Organization for Migration (IOM), were dismantled and the migrants were deported to the Algerian border.
FTDES spokesman Romdhane Ben Amor reported that at least 300 migrants, including women and children, were evacuated overnight. The rights group noted that up to 700 sub-Saharan migrants had established these encampments north of the Gulf of Tunis over recent months.
Many migrants had fled to Tunis from other cities due to increased anti-migrant violence following a speech by President Kais Saied in February last year, where he referred to “hordes of illegal migrants” as a demographic threat to the country.
Humanitarian sources confirmed the expulsions on Friday, which reportedly began at around 3 am. Some migrants had left the encampments before authorities arrived, while others managed to escape to the Beja region near the Algerian border.
FTDES emphasized that among those expelled were vulnerable individuals protected by international conventions and individuals requiring medical assistance after enduring harsh conditions for months.
Tunisia has become a common departure point for sub-Saharan migrants seeking to reach Europe. These recent expulsions occurred shortly after far-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s visit to Tunis, during which migration-related agreements were signed.
