Tunisian Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar discussed ways to enhance international cooperation in combating illegal immigration with the Director-General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Amy Pope. According to a statement from the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this meeting occurred during Ammar’s working visit to Geneva from December 11 to 14. The discussions were centered around initiatives launched by Tunisia in recent months, aimed at contributing positively and effectively to regional and international efforts. These efforts are directed towards finding collective solutions to address the root causes of illegal immigration and to enhance legal migration pathways.
Furthermore, Ammar urged the IOM to play its role as a UN humanitarian agency and to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Palestine, responding as quickly as possible to the needs of the Palestinian people.
On her part, the Director-General of the IOM expressed the organization’s readiness to strengthen cooperation with Tunisia and to play a more effective mediating role between European and African countries. This is to encourage legal immigration based on mutual benefit.
The issue of illegal immigration in Tunisia has evolved significantly, especially since the 2011 revolution. Post-revolution Tunisia has witnessed shifts in its political landscape, affecting its migration policies. Despite greater freedoms and transparency, Tunisia’s securitized migration policies have largely remained unchanged. This is due to a combination of factors: the need to democratically legitimize policies, contradictory dynamics within the Tunisian state, external demands for migration control, and equivocal transnational dynamics influenced by European migration policy. The democratization process has not fundamentally altered the security priorities of Tunisia’s Interior Ministry and European external actors, particularly regarding immigration. Additionally, there isn’t a clear majority within Tunisian society to politicize immigration issues through a human rights lens.
The Tunisian coast, particularly the region around Sfax, has become a significant departure point for illegal immigrants trying to reach Europe, specifically the Italian island of Lampedusa. Tunisian security authorities recently launched a campaign in Sfax to address the issue of illegal immigration. In a specific operation, Tunisia’s maritime guard foiled 88 illegal immigration attempts over three days, rescuing 1,131 illegal immigrants from sinking during the operations. Among these immigrants, 543 were of various African nationalities, with the rest being Tunisian nationals. This operation reflects the ongoing efforts by Tunisian authorities to curb the surge in illegal immigration, which has been a significant concern for both Tunisia and the European Union
