Summary:

On Monday 19 November 2024, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Ali Nafti, met with multiple ambassadors of European Union (EU) states at the residency of the Hungarian Ambassador to discuss irregular migration.

At this meeting, the Minister stressed the need to address the issue of irregular migration giving priority to addressing the root causes in a spirit of shared responsibility, solidarity-based development, and respect for human dignity.

Nafti also called for promoting voluntary return programs for irregular migrants to assist them in returning to their countries.

Days prior, on 16 November Nafti stated in a speech in front of the Tunisian Parliament that Tunisia continues to refuse to become a transit point or a place of temporary or permanent residence for irregular migrants.

He recalled that Tunisia continues to respect its international commitments in terms of human rights and solidarity, while insisting that this problem also represents a threat to national security.

Outlook: 

The Foreign Affairs Minister’s focus on the migration question during meetings with European ambassadors is likely an extension of ongoing efforts to garner international support for Tunisia’s efforts to deport irregular migrants back to their countries of origin.

It remains essential for Tunisia to remain engaged with the EU on the issue of migration to continue to receive support and resources, while balancing that cooperation with firm stances against various potential policy options that the EU might prefer.

Discussing the issue before parliament is likely an effort to justify the increases in the budgets of key ministries dealing with the migratory issue, especially the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs with an eye toward garnering support from key MPs for these budget increases.

With the current situation in the Sahel, irregular migration is likely to remain a serious challenge for the Tunisian state while being a critical point of engagement with key European partners with potential diplomatic and economic implications reaching far beyond the issue itself.

Explore our services or speak with our team of North Africa-based risk experts.