Tunisia rejects the accusations about the migrants left in the desert

Following the dissemination on some media and on social networks of falsehoods regarding the file of African (sub-Saharan) migrants in the desert",... the Tunisian Ministry of the Interior rejects "these accusations and slanders which could harm the image of Tunisia and the Tunisians". This is stated in a statement from the Ministry of the Interior. The same note underlines that "the Republic of Tunisia, as a state and a people, spares no effort to take care of African migrants and other foreigners present on Tunisian territory, or to rescue those who are in danger in Tunisian territorial waters until they reach a safe place".

The ministry then insists on the duty to protect national borders, declining any responsibility towards sub-Saharans who find themselves outside these The Minister of the Interior, Kamel Feki, on national television, reiterated that Tunisia "follows the application of the law" in the rejection of migrants, "within the framework of respect for human rights and the protection of dignity", adding that Tunis assumes no responsibility for what happens outside its borders. Meanwhile, at least 46 migrant Gambian citizens stranded in Tunisia will return home today, according to a statement from the ministry of foreign affairs.

This can be read in a note from the Gambian Foreign Ministry, according to which "a consular mission from 13 to 20 July 2023, assisted the repatriation of Gambian citizens following tensions between sub-Saharan Africans and some Tunisian citizens in Sfax and surroundings". With the collaboration of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) "46 migrants will be evacuated from Tunisia through Morocco and will arrive in Banjul in the early morning of Friday 28 July".