Twenty Senegalese still missing after migrant boat capsized off Tunisian coasts last month

Senegalese authorities are coordinating with Tunisian counterparts the search of around 20 Senegalese nationals who were on a migrant boat that sank at the end of March off the coasts of the North African country.

A Senegalese delegation went to Sfax, the starting point in central-eastern Tunisia of the shipwrecked boat, for a mission to identify the bodies, Africa News reports.

The Senegalese foreign ministry in a press release said: “none of the remains recovered by the Tunisian coast guard corresponds to our compatriots” missing in this shipwreck which occurred on the night of March 23 to 24 off the Mediterranean.

The Senegalese embassy in Tunis “will remain in permanent contact with the (Tunisian) authorities and the Tunisian Red Crescent to monitor the recovery and identification of victims,” the statement added.

Tunisia has become main departure point of migrants from variety of horizons who take to the sea to reach the shores of Europe, after Libya has tightened control of its coasts.

Tunisian President Kais Saied had accused Sub-Saharans for invading the North African country with the help of a third party that they stopped short to name.

Tunisia afterwards launched a crackdown on illegal Sub-Saharan citizens living in the country. The campaign stirred large scale condemnation at home and abroad.

Several Sub-Saharan countries including Senegal sent charter flights to bring back home their nationals who voluntarily want to return home.