Tunisia clears migrant camps, tensions escalate

Tunisian authorities have launched a sweeping operation to dismantle informal migrant camps around the town of El Amra, leaving hundreds of sub-Saharan African migrants homeless.

For nearly two years, these camps, nestled within olive groves, have served as temporary havens for migrants stranded in Tunisia after failed attempts to cross the Mediterranean to Europe. The operation, which included police clearing shelters and setting fire to tents, has led to frustration and confusion among the migrants, with many now uncertain about their next move. As authorities press on with the clearances, the displaced migrants have nowhere to go but the surrounding areas.

This crackdown is part of a broader anti-migrant sentiment fuelled by tensions between migrants and local residents, who demand the camps be removed. The situation worsened after President Kais Saied’s controversial comments in 2023 about the demographic threat posed by “hordes of sub-Saharan migrants.”

Many migrants, who arrived in Tunisia after crossing the deserts of Algeria and Mali in hopes of reaching Europe, find themselves stuck in the country after tighter maritime controls restricted their passage. Tunisia has struck deals with the European Union to manage irregular migration, but for many migrants, the situation remains bleak as they face both physical and political barriers to their onward journey.

Humanitarian groups have raised concerns about the long-term effects of these clearances. While the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has facilitated some voluntary return flights, rights groups worry that the operation is simply displacing migrants without offering sustainable solutions. As many migrants return to the olive groves or scatter into nearby areas, experts warn that these relocations will not solve the underlying issue, with migrants likely to regroup and rebuild their camps elsewhere. Despite the government’s claims that the operation was “humane,” there is little sign that it will lead to any meaningful resolution, with many migrants insisting that they are determined to reach Europe, no matter the cost.