Tunis: Tunisian security forces have dismantled informal settlements that sheltered approximately 7,000 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, marking a new phase in the country’s growing migrant crisis.
According to National Guard official Houssem Eddine Jebabli, authorities began forcibly deporting some migrants on Friday night, with a focus also on encouraging voluntary repatriation for thousands more.
Jebabli confirmed that several individuals were arrested for involvement in violent incidents during the operation. Authorities confiscated various bladed weapons, including knives and swords, as part of the crackdown.
Officials estimate that around 20,000 migrants currently reside in makeshift shelters, primarily in forested areas of southern Tunisia near towns like Amra and Jbeniana. These encampments formed after authorities blocked many migrants from crossing the Mediterranean Sea.
Tensions between migrants and local communities have escalated, with residents demanding the removal of migrant populations from their regions. In response, Tunisian rights organizations have denounced what they describe as discriminatory rhetoric and state-led crackdowns, including the detention of activists who supported African migrants.
President Kais Saied has previously described the influx of undocumented migrants from sub-Saharan Africa as a plot to alter Tunisia’s demographic makeup, a claim that drew condemnation from the African Union, which labeled the president’s remarks as hate speech. Saied rejected the accusation as unjust.
Despite the controversy, Tunisia has received commendation from Italian officials for its recent efforts to curb the number of migrant departures toward Europe.
