The bodies of at least 901 drowned refugees and migrants have been found off the coast of Tunisia between January 1 and July 20 of this year, according to the country’s Interior Minister Kamel Feki. Tunisia has replaced Libya as the region’s main departure point for people fleeing poverty and conflict in the hope of a better life in Europe. Most of the boats carrying migrants depart from the coast of the southern city of Sfax. In July, the European Union and Tunisia signed in July a “strategic partnership” deal that includes combating human traffickers and tightening sea borders. More than 21,000 sub-Saharan Africans live in Tunisia, including those with student visas and other legal residencies, according to the FTDES advocacy group.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 27, 2023 14:23 UTC