Twelve Tunisian migrants drowned in shipwreck off Djerba

Twelve Tunisians, including women and babies, tragically drowned while attempting to illegally migrate to Europe when their boat sank off the coast of Djerba, a tourist island in southeastern Tunisia, according to a judicial source. The accident occurred at dawn under unknown circumstances. Some 29 would-be migrants were rescued.

Fethi Baccouche, spokesperson for the Medenine court, confirmed that the victims included “five men, four women, and three babies,” all from different regions of Tunisia. He did not provide the total number of passengers or indicate whether there were missing persons. Local radio station Radio Tataouine estimated that around 60 people had been aboard the boat before it sank.

The Tunisian National Guard responded after being “alerted by four passengers who swam back to shore.” A statement from the Guard revealed that the passengers were a mix of Tunisians and “foreigners,” a term commonly referring to sub-Saharan Africans. The boat is believed to have departed from the Ras Rmel Hachana peninsula, north of Djerba, aiming for the Italian island of Lampedusa.

Tunisia, along with Libya, is a major departure point in North Africa for migrants attempting the perilous Mediterranean crossing to Europe. With parts of Tunisia’s coastline located less than 150 kilometers from Sicily, the country has become a key route for both sub-Saharan Africans fleeing poverty and conflict, as well as Tunisians facing worsening economic conditions and political instability since President Kais Saied grasp power in 2021. Tens of thousands of migrants, including many Tunisians, risk the dangerous journey each year.