Tunisia reaffirms its firmness in the face of the illegal installation of migrants in Sfax. The security authorities ensure that the El Amra region is now under control, after the progressive dismantling of the camps which housed more than 7,000 people in an irregular situation.
This declaration comes as the European Commission recently classified Tunisia among the countries of “safe” origin, alongside Morocco and Egypt. This new status, linked to the pact on migration and asylum adopted in May 2024, implies an accelerated treatment of asylum requests for nationals of these countries, within a maximum of three months.
During a press briefing held in Tunis on Saturday, Houssem Eddine Jebabli, spokesperson for the National Guard, stressed that there was “no more question of tolerating a return to anarchy or the reconstruction of wild camps”. According to him, several hundred migrants have been arrested for possession of white weapons and objects likely to be used against the police.
Since the vast operation carried out on April 4, many migrants have requested the international agencies present in Sfax, El Hachich and Tunis to benefit from a voluntary return. To date, more than 160 people have been repatriated, a figure which should increase as departures continue, according to local authorities.
At the same time, the security forces, in coordination with the public health services and the Tunisian Red Crescent, launched a campaign to disinfeate the evacuated sites. The objective: to prevent any health risk for residents, while hygiene conditions in the old camps, characterized by a lack of drinking water and failing health facilities, were considered critical.
Particular attention was paid to vulnerable people, especially pregnant women and children, who have been covered by local medical structures.
The Ministry of the Interior affirms that all these operations are part of a legal framework and reaffirms its desire to manage the migration issue in compliance with humanitarian laws and standards.
