Tunisian Security Forces Destroy Sudanese Refugee Camps
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Tunisian security forces, along with civilians, destroyed and burned tents and belongings of hundreds of Sudanese arrivals who reached Tunisia after the April 2023 war in Sudan.
One Sudanese refugee stated that Tunisian security personnel and civilians attacked the camp where they were staying in the Kilometer 36 area of Jebeniana in the Sfax governorate, south of Tunisia. They destroyed tents and burned their belongings, and the number of refugees reached more than 600 individuals.
This security campaign comes after a visit by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to Tunisia last week, during which she agreed with Tunisian President Kais Saied on the principle that "Tunisia cannot be a destination country for migrants," according to the French news agency.
Authorities do not differentiate between migrants and refugees, despite Tunisia being a signatory to the Geneva Convention on Refugees and hosting representation from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in the country.
A Tunisian human rights organization, the "Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights," criticized Melonis visit, saying, "Meloni views Tunisia solely as an advanced border point that requires strengthening security measures to stop access to Italy, regardless of the human cost. Today, Tunisia is needed as an electoral card in Italy and Europe to market the success of the cooperation model with Tunisia to stop migration."
They called for an end to "unfair cooperation on migration issues, which has put the rights and dignity of our citizens in Italy and the dignity of migrants in Tunisia up for sale in financial, political, and electoral auctions."
Last July, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) expressed deep concern about the safety and conditions of hundreds of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in Tunisia, who remain trapped in dire circumstances after being deported to remote and isolated areas near the countrys borders with Libya and Algeria, while others were pushed across borders into Libya or Algeria.
The Arab World News Agency reported that Tunisian security forces dismantled temporary camps of illegal migrants dreaming of reaching Europe in Al-Amra and Jebeniana, located in the Sfax governorate.
The Arab World News Agency quoted Diwan FM radio, broadcasting from Sfax, as saying, "The cities of Al-Amra and Jebeniana in the Sfax governorate are witnessing a major security campaign led by various security forces and national guards, during which the tents of African migrants from south of the Sahara were removed."
Residents of Jebeniana and Al-Amra are protesting against the influx of thousands of migrants and demanding their deportation, claiming they are subjected to assaults and theft.
A witness told the Arab World News Agency that large security reinforcements arrived in Al-Amra on Tuesday.
The local labor union in the cities of Al-Amra and Jebeniana in the Sfax governorate threatened to launch a general strike in protest against the large influx of migrants from sub-Saharan African countries.
It added that it has been closely monitoring the deteriorating social situation for months due to the arrival of large numbers of sub-Saharan Africans.
The situation has escalated to violence and attacks on individuals and private property.
Thousands of migrants from sub-Saharan African countries flock to the coastal city of Sfax in hopes of crossing the Mediterranean Sea to reach European shores.
Last year, Tunisian authorities evacuated illegal migrants from the city of Sfax following clashes with locals.
