Increasingly, many Tunisians are trying to flee economic hardship at home. Migrants from Sub-Saharian Africa gather around a fire at a camp in Jebiniana in Tunisia's Sfax governorate. According to the National Guard, 21,545 people were intercepted between January 1 and April 30, compared with 17,576 over the same period last year. Last year, Tunisians accounted for the second largest number of irregular migrant arrivals in Italy, at 17,304 people, second only to Guineans at 18,204, Italian government figures show. Tunisians marched through the streets of Jebeniana on Saturday to protest the presence of sub-Saharan migrants who have found themselves stranded as the country ramps up border patrol efforts.

Source: The North Africa Journal May 19, 2024 12:09 UTC