Tunisian President pushes for faster migrant returns
Tunisian President Kais Saied has urged the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to speed up efforts to send irregular migrants back to their home countries.
According to him, not enough had been done to stop the growing number of migrants stranded in Tunisia.
The presidency announced that only 1,544 migrants had been sent home since the start of the year.
It added that the number could have been much higher if more action had been taken.
Tunisia has become a major departure point for migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe. Many of them come from sub-Saharan Africa, hoping to land in Italy, just 150 kilometres away.
Stricter European border controls, however, mean many migrants are now stuck in Tunisia, often in difficult conditions.
The IOM runs a programme that helps migrants return home voluntarily and offers free flights and support to help them start over in their home countries. Last year, 7,250 migrants were repatriated through this scheme.
The journey across the Mediterranean remains extremely dangerous.
The IOM says 343 people have died or disappeared at sea so far this year.
Last year, the number was much higher, with 2,476 lives lost.
Earlier this month, Tunisia’s national guard rescued 612 migrants and found 18 bodies off the coast.
Despite the risks, thousands of people continue to attempt the crossing. Italy’s interior ministry says 8,743 migrants have arrived in Italy this year, slightly more than the same period in 2024.
