The president of Tunisia reiterated allegations that criminal networks sponsored the presence of unauthorized migrants in the north African nation in a speech to senior authorities on Friday (July 14).
His comments came after local NGOs raised the alarm about the precarious position of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa who have been driven out of the city of Sfax.
“This immigration is a displacement operation, not a regular immigration. It is supervised by criminal networks that traffic in human beings and organs who aim not only to make money, but also to destabilize the country,” Kais Saied said.
“I’ll say it again: we are Africans, and we are proud of our African identity. But we refuse to be a land of transit or a land of settlement.”
A few sections of Tunisia’s coastline are located several hundred km from Italy.
On Friday, the head of Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, called for a migration deal with Tunisia.
A visit to Sicily, an island some 300 kilometers away from Lampedusa, was being made by the man.
“I’ve seen one of those ships onshore here close by. It’s unbelievable what they do with those migrants and I think if we can agree on proper arrangements between Tunisia in this case and Italy or Europe, I think that would help. But again it’s not my remit. It’s a political decision to do so, but from a professional side, I think it’s important to try whatever we can, and what is allowed within the limits to see how we can prevent people from departing.”
To sign a pact stipulating financial aid for the North African nation intended to combat illegal immigration, a high-ranking European team is scheduled to arrive in Tunis on Sunday.
According to Frontex, illegal migrant entry into Europe primarily occurs through boat crossings of the central Mediterranean.
