Tunisian authorities have launched a large-scale operation to dismantle dozens of makeshift camps along the Mediterranean coastline, which have been home to thousands of African migrants.
These camps, located on privately owned land near the towns of El Amra and Jebeniana, have been the site of increasing tensions and violent altercations between migrants and local residents.
The camps are situated less than 161 kilometres from Italy, which is part of the European Union’s outermost borders. Officials have suggested that more than 20,000 people have been sheltering in these areas, prompting concerns over safety and the rising number of migrants attempting to reach Europe.
Brigadier General Hossam Eddine Jababli, spokesperson for Tunisia’s National Guard, stated that the operation aimed to ensure the “health and safety” of both migrants and local communities. During the sweeps, roughly 200 migrants from sub-Saharan countries were detained, and authorities reported seizing bladed weapons from the camps.
There are concerns that some of these individuals may have been planning violent actions, and deportations could follow for those deemed responsible. The Tunisian government has also intensified efforts to prevent migrants from crossing the Mediterranean to Italy, a journey that remains perilous, with 432 migrants already arriving in Italy by the end of February 2025.
The dismantling of the camps has sparked mixed reactions. While local lawmakers and residents have voiced concerns about the camps’ impact on their communities, international migration organizations have raised fears of forced expulsions. As authorities work to relocate migrants to state-owned land in Bir Mellouli, southwest of Sfax, there are growing apprehensions about the safety and treatment of those displaced. Social media has been rife with messages warning migrants not to trust authorities, fearing deceitful deportations to neighboring countries like Algeria or Libya.
Despite these fears, President Kais Saied assured the public that the operation was conducted without violence and was in line with humanitarian principles, aiming to remove migrants from private property and address local concerns.