Tunisian authorities this week launched a wide-scale operation to dismantle over a dozen makeshift migrant camps near the towns of El Amra and Jebeniana, north of Sfax, amid escalating tensions with local residents and concerns over public safety. According to Brig. Gen. Hossam Eddine Jebabli, spokesperson for Tunisia’s National Guard, the security sweeps targeted camps located on privately owned land along the Mediterranean coastline. Authorities detained around 200 migrants, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, citing health and safety concerns. Bladed weapons were reportedly seized during the raids, raising alarm over alleged planned violence.
Authorities said the dismantled camps, which once housed over 20,000 people, had become flashpoints for frequent clashes between migrants and locals. Residents of El Amra and Jebeniana have long protested the camps’ presence, citing fears of crime, public disorder, and deteriorating sanitation. Following the operation, migrants were relocated to state-owned land in Bir Mellouli, southwest of Sfax, while the government signaled intentions to begin deportations for those involved in criminal activity. At the same time, officials stressed ongoing coordination with international migration organizations, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM), to support voluntary repatriation programs.
Despite official reassurances, migrant communities remain wary. Viral social media posts and voice messages have circulated in recent days, warning others not to board government-provided buses, alleging that migrants could be forcibly expelled to border regions with Algeria or Libya—a claim that echoes past incidents of forced removals into desert zones. In response, President Kais Saied addressed the concerns during a visit to Monastir, insisting that the dismantling operations were peaceful and conducted without coercion. He framed the actions as legally and morally justified, emphasizing that the occupation of private land could not continue unchecked.
Tunisia has faced growing international scrutiny over its treatment of migrants, particularly as it becomes a key departure point for those attempting to cross the Central Mediterranean to Europe. According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), at least 432 migrants successfully reached Italy from Tunisia by the end of February 2025, though many more are believed to have died or been intercepted at sea. The EU has deepened cooperation with Tunisia in recent years to curb irregular migration, including a controversial 2023 deal providing financial aid in exchange for enhanced border controls—a move that human rights groups say risks enabling abuses.
Meanwhile, tensions remain high in Sfax, where lawmakers like Tarek Mahdi have warned that further instability could erupt if long-term solutions for migrant housing and integration are not found.
