At least 13 Tunisians missing after migrant boat sinks off Tunisia

At least 13 Tunisians remain missing after a migrant boat capsized off the Tunisian coast, en route to Italy, according to Mostafa Abdelkebir, head of the Tunisian Observatory for Human Rights. Two individuals were rescued from the wreckage, with one survivor recounting that they had been adrift at sea for hours following the capsizing.

The second survivor was in critical condition, as reported by Abdelkebir. Tunisia, historically a significant departure point for migrants attempting the perilous Mediterranean crossing, has witnessed a sharp decline in departures due to a crackdown and intensified maritime surveillance, largely supported by European funding and advanced border-monitoring technology, particularly from Italy.

Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have criticized the EU-Tunisia migration agreement, alleging that it has perpetuated severe abuses against migrants and asylum seekers within Tunisia. These groups have urged the European Union to terminate funding for migration and border-control initiatives involving Tunisian law enforcement.

Despite this, Tunisia has acknowledged bearing the brunt of the massive influx of migrants, with President Kais Saied asserting in 2023 that the surge was intended to alter the demographic composition of the nation. The central Mediterranean route, notorious for being one of the world's deadliest migration passages, is frequently traversed by African and Middle Eastern migrants, many of whom embark on their journey in substandard or overcrowded vessels, seeking refuge in Europe.