In El Amra, Tunisia, migrants from sub-Saharan Africa plead to be allowed passage to Europe amid escalating tensions over the government’s response to the migrant crisis.
Nestled in local olive groves, their makeshift camps depict the challenges endured by those aspiring for a brighter future in Europe. Among them, Malian migrants display faces marked by weariness and despair.
“Finding work is nearly impossible here. We struggle to find enough to eat,” expressed Defao, a Malian migrant, highlighting the dire circumstances. “All we’re asking for is the chance to leave,” he continued.
Echoing similar sentiments, Zilé Inoza, a migrant from Burkina Faso, emphasised the urgency of finding safe passage.
“Conflict in our homelands compels us to seek refuge for our families,” he stated.
“We haven’t caused any trouble; we simply seek passage.”
For many migrants with aspirations of a European life, El Amra and nearby Jebeniana represent a last hope amid the challenges encountered in Tunisia, a crucial transit point for individuals from Syria, Bangladesh, and various sub-Saharan African countries.
As law enforcement presence grows in these agricultural towns, home to approximately 83,000 Tunisians alongside a rising migrant population, tensions escalate.
Recent protests in Jebeniana saw hundreds of Tunisians urging the government to expel migrants, citing the burdens they bear due to Tunisia’s efforts to curb migration, despite a recent pact with the EU and substantial financial aid.
Tunisian President Kais Saied has adopted a tough stance on migrants, accusing them of contributing to violence and crime within the country.
The Tunisian Coast Guard reports having thwarted over 21,000 migration attempts by land or sea this year.
According to the UN refugee agency UNHCR, fewer than 8,000 individuals successfully made the journey from Tunisia to Italy by boat in the first four months of 2024, marking a significant decrease compared to 2023.
The International Organization for Migration’s Tunisia office estimates that around 7,000 migrants reside near Jebeniana and El Amra, although local residents believe the actual number may be much higher.
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