Rabat – Tensions and resignation have gripped the louage station in Sfax, Tunisia, which has become a point of fear for many migrants from sub-Saharan Africa. Migrants who endured arduous and dangerous journeys to reach Tunisia are now fleeing the coastal city in fear for their lives after a fatal altercation with a local resident.
Despite a clear increase, the exact number of undocumented African migrants in Tunisia, particularly in Sfax, remains unclear.
The death of a local resident during clashes between local residents and African migrants has ignited long-standing tensions in the region with witnesses describing the situation as resembling a “civil war.”
In response to the murder, three men from Cameroon were arrested, and 34 others were detained for illegal entry into the country. However, these actions have done little to quell the tensions in Sfax.
Overnight, numerous migrants were rounded up and taken by bus to the militarized border between Tunisia and Libya, where they were left to endure the scorching heat while awaiting a resolution to their situation.
Among them is Mohammed from Sierra Leone, who recounted the violence he experienced to Al Jazeera, both in Libya and Sfax, expressing his desire to go to Europe if given the opportunity.
Mohammed’s story is not unique, as it resonated with the experiences of many other undocumented African migrants living on the streets of Tunisia.
While their presence has been a lifeline for some Tunisians facing economic hardships, offering them an opportunity for financial gain, some have expressed “distrust” towards them, especially amid worsening economic conditions in the country.
In Sfax, locals along the coastline have capitalized on the desperation of sub-Saharan migrants by constructing small boats to transport them to Europe, charging them around 3,000 Tunisian dinars per passenger.
These boat builders have found lucrative opportunities. However, the passengers themselves face great risks, relying on a single migrant with limited navigational knowledge, makeshift lifeboats made from car tires, and sometimes diluted fuel.
It is a common occurrence for irregular migrants to go missing or die at sea in such trips, often being deported or mistreated by European authorities once they are found.
North African countries such as Morocco and Tunisia are popular destinations for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa due to their proximity to European countries such as Spain and Italy.
