The city of Sfax witnessed the forced evictions by the Tunisian authorities of some 500 migrants from sub-Saharan countries.
The evacuations took place in a building considered a key staging point for illegal migration to Europe, and the move came after clashes between migrants and security forces, which led to the arrest of a number of individuals involved in various acts of violence and crimes.
Tunisia has come under fire from human rights organizations for escalating attacks and ill-treatment of migrants, especially after last year’s mass expulsion that led to the deaths and loss of many in a desert region bordering Libya.
Tunisian President Kais Saied’s remarks, described as violent and racist against sub-Saharan migrants, sparked a wave of resentment both domestically and internationally.
According to international organizations, the Tunisian authorities intercepted more than twenty thousand migrants before crossing towards European coasts until mid-April 2024.
Tunisia deports Senegalese immigrants to Libya and Algeria