HUMAN Rights Watch (HRW) has urged Tunisia to immediately halt what it describes as ‘collective expulsions’ of black African migrants to a remote desert area near the Libya-Tunisia border. The New York-based watchdog raised concerns over the treatment of migrants, including children and pregnant women, who have been expelled by Tunisian security forces since July 2.
HRW’s statement expressed the alarming situation, stating, ‘Many reported violence by authorities during arrest or expulsion.’ Lauren Seibert from HRW called on Tunisia’s government to put an end to these collective expulsions and enable humanitarian access to the migrants and asylum seekers who have already been expelled to the dangerous border area.
The collective expulsions come amidst a backdrop of violence in Sfax, Tunisia’s second-largest city. The city has often been a departure point for migrants hoping to reach Europe by sea, particularly the Italian island of Lampedusa. The recent violence erupted after the funeral of a Tunisian man who was fatally stabbed in a brawl between Tunisians and migrants.
HRW’s investigation found that migrants interviewed alleged multiple deaths and injuries at the border area, with some migrants claiming they were shot or beaten by Tunisian security forces. Additionally, there were reports of armed Libyan men robbing and sexually assaulting migrants. HRW called on the Tunisian government to conduct a thorough investigation into these abuses and hold the responsible security forces accountable.
Lauren Seibert emphasised the urgency of the situation, saying, ‘African migrants and asylum seekers, including children, are desperate to get out of the dangerous border zone and find food, medical care, and safety. There is no time to waste.’
Tunisia has experienced a rise in racially motivated attacks following President Kais Saied’s remarks in February, in which he accused undocumented migrants of bringing violence and alleged a ‘criminal plot’ to change the country’s demographic makeup.
Amidst this crisis, video footage shared by an African association depicts dozens of exhausted migrants, including mothers with babies, stranded in the desert near the Mediterranean border with Libya. Some Tunisians have shown solidarity with the migrants, providing food and medical assistance to those who have been forced from their homes and left destitute.
The call from HRW puts pressure on Tunisia to address the urgent humanitarian needs of the expelled migrants and ensure the protection of their human rights.
