Hommam Al Nassim 
Tunisian authorities have arrested a Sudanese athlete known for his martial arts training after he appeared to train irregular migrants in Sfax.
A Tunisian judicial official confirmed that the 24-year-old Sudanese athlete was arrested while trying to migrate illegally from the Tunisian coast to the nearby Italian islands.
The Sudanese athlete appeared in videos presenting combat performances in the art of “kung fu” with skillful skill, at the olive farm in the Amera area of Sfax governorate, where there are random tents for migrants.
According to Tunisian court spokesman Farid Ben Juha, the Sudanese athlete faces charges of forming an accord to illegally cross the maritime border, in addition to using communication systems to “spread terror among residents and intimidate them”.
Ben Juha added that if the charges against him are proven, he could be sentenced to up to five years in prison.
The Sudanese athlete entered Tunisia illegally across the Libyan border in 2023, following the internal armed conflict in his country.
Information indicates that thousands of migrants coming to Tunisia from sub-Saharan African countries are seeking to cross the Mediterranean in search of better chances of life within the European Union.
Sudan condemns Chad’s intervention and reaffirms its support for Rapid Support Forces