The mass landing of 8,500 migrants in three days in Lampedusa this week has attracted worldwide attention. This small Italian island, located just 150 kilometers from the Tunisian coast, has become the preferred entry point for migrants looking for a better life in Europe.
The Tunisian coast guard revealed that the situation has become increasingly difficult to manage. The figures speak for themselves: the number of migrants attempting the crossing has tripled compared to last year, going from 8,000 to 20,000 this summer.
This wave of migration highlights the difficulties Tunisia faces. The country is unable to cope with the migratory flows passing through it, and this adds to a wave of internal departures as Tunisians seek a way out of the economic and political crisis hitting the country.
The situation is exacerbated by the ongoing destabilization in the Sahel region and the war in Sudan. Wael Garnaoui, a researcher specializing in migration, expects the phenomenon to continue, highlighting the proliferation of smuggling networks in the Sfax region.
This summer, the European Union signed a partnership with Tunisia to financially support the country in exchange for better regulation of migratory flows. However, this agreement seems to have been a failure, as the Tunisian researcher points out. The reactions of European leaders to this massive influx of migrants have been criticized, and some believe that the EU has a responsibility to protect people under international law.
Faced with this situation, the Tunisian President, Kaïs Saïed, gave new directives to try to curb the migration crisis in Sfax.
It is clear that the issue of migration remains a major challenge for Tunisia, Europe and the rest of the world. Continued political and economic instability in the Sahel region, as well as armed conflicts in countries like Sudan, will continue to push many people to take risks in the hope of a better life.
It is essential that affected countries work together to find lasting solutions, providing both economic opportunities and protection to vulnerable migrants. International cooperation is essential to meet this complex and humanitarian challenge.