Summary:

Over the night of 9/10 March 2023, the Tunisian National Guard returned 1,008 irregular migrants to Tunisia from the Mediterranean Sea following the disruption of 25 separate crossing attempts. The National Guard reported that 54 of those returned were Tunisians while the remaining 954 were from sub-Saharan African countries.

Outlook:  

This marks a notable increase in the number of irregular migrants returned in a single night, even as the numbers have been increasing in general. The recent crackdown on migrants that coincided with President Kais Saied’s inflammatory statements is likely increasing the pressure on migrants in Tunisia to attempt the dangerous crossings to Europe.

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