- Riots: Undocumented sub-Saharan African migrants behind violent clashes in Sfax
- At least 6 national guard officers were severely injured
- 2 national guard vehicles were badly damaged
At least 6 national guard officiers were hospitalized the last couple of days, 5 of them in serious condition, with injuries sustained during hours-long violent clashes in Sfax between undocumented sub-Saharan African migrants and the national guard. The injuries were life-threatening, the hospital said.
There is no clear motive for the widespread riots. The Ministry of Interior did not yet comment on the events, but the videos circulating on social media echo the damage done during riots in the Al-Hamaizia region of Sfax today.
Tunisia has between 40,000 and 60,000 undocumented sub-Saharan African migrants, according to local NGOs. A population that is growing day by day as more migrants crossing the borders and entering the country, illegally.
Many of these migrants do not stay in the Maghreb, however. Last year, half of the 22,000 migrants who arrived illegally in Europe (especially in Italy) from Tunisia were of sub-Saharan origin. These departures were motivated by the country’s economic situation and the complexity of the regularization procedures.
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