The Tunisian authorities intensify the evacuation operations of the camps of sub -Saharan migrants in an irregular situation in the governorate of Sfax. Since the beginning of April, six camps have been dismantled in the delegations of Jbeniana and Amara, having housed around 9,000 migrants, pending the evacuation of other remaining sites.
During a media statement, Colonel Houssem Eddine Jebabli, spokesperson for the National Guard, said yesterday, Thursday, April 24, that evacuation operations continue to “Henchir Kerkeni” in the Amara delegation, where around 2,500 irregular migrants reside, and “Henchir Ouled Ahmed” in the delegation of Jbeniana, who welcomes between 800 and 1 000. He recalled that these operations started at the beginning of the month.
“Tunisia will not be a land of resettlement or transit,” said Colonel Jebli in a declaration to the TAP agency, insisting that evacuations take place in compliance with human rights, with the assistance of the Ministry of Health, Civil Protection and the Tunisian Red Crescent. The places are systematically disinfected after each operation, and pregnant women, children and infants are directed to hospitals.
At the same time, an increasing number of migrants express their desire to voluntarily return to their country of origin. “With each evacuation, the interest in voluntary return increases. We make buses available to them to reach the headquarters of the International Organization for Migration (OIM) in Tunis and register, “said Jebabli.
This Thursday, April 24, a new voluntary return flight was organized from Tunis-Carthage airport, allowing 149 Guinean migrants in an irregular situation to regain their country. This is the fourth flight of the genre in 2025, according to General Imed Mémèche, spokesperson for the General Directorate of National Security.
“This theft is the result of coordination between interior, foreign, health and IOM ministries,” said General Memèche. He announced that four other flights are scheduled for May one per week, stating that passenger lists are established according to rigorous air -safety procedures.
Since the start of the year, 1,544 migrants have benefited from a voluntary return from Tunisia. In 2024, 7,250 migrants from sub -Saharan African countries were repatriated as part of this program.
Several migrants interviewed by the TAP agency said they were originally hoping for Europe via Tunisia. However, precarious conditions, particularly in terms of housing and access to employment, pushed them to review their project and opt for a voluntary return.
