TUNIS: At least 20 African migrants were missing on Saturday after their boat sank off Tunisia as they tried to cross the Mediterranean to Italy, a judicial official said, amidst a sharp rise in migrant boats from the North African country. The coast guard rescued 17 others off the southern city of Sfax from the same boat, two of whom are in critical condition, Sfax court judge Faouzi Masmousdi said. In recent weeks, dozens have gone missing and died in repeated drowning accidents off the Tunisian coast. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that Europe risks seeing a huge wave of migrants arriving on its shores from North Africa if financial stability in Tunisia is not safeguarded. Meloni called on the IMF and other countries to help Tunisia quickly to avoid its collapse.

Source: The North Africa Journal April 09, 2023 02:01 UTC