Human Rights Watch alleged on July 19 that Tunisia’s security forces, including the coastguard, had “committed serious abuses against black African migrants” that include collective expulsions and dangerous actions at sea. ‘Seventh attempt’One young man from the Ivory Coast told AFP he was on his “seventh attempt” to make it across the Mediterranean. It included 15 million euros earmarked to finance the “voluntary return” of 6,000 African migrants to their countries of origin. On Tuesday, the navy intercepted more than 50 sub-Saharan African migrants off the kingdom’s southwest coast. Atlantic crossings began surging in late 2019 after increased patrols along Europe’s southern coast dramatically reduced Mediterranean crossings.

Source: The North Africa Journal August 12, 2023 17:41 UTC