Tunisia’s Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti on Wednesday reaffirmed the country’s commitment to voluntary return programmes for irregular migrants, describing them as a safer and more humane alternative to forced deportations. Nafti said Tunisia continues to shoulder a heavy migration burden as a key transit point for people from across Africa attempting the dangerous journey to Europe. He stressed that authorities are prioritizing voluntary repatriation while strengthening border controls to curb risky sea crossings.
Tunisian security forces have intensified operations along the coast, yet migration attempts persist. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, at least 432 migrants reached Italy from Tunisia by the end of February 2026. The broader Mediterranean route remains increasingly deadly. The International Organization for Migration reports that 682 people were confirmed missing by March 16, marking the deadliest start to a year on record, though the true toll is believed to be significantly higher. Human rights groups warn that limited transparency from authorities in Italy, Tunisia, and Malta is making it harder to verify shipwrecks and casualties, leaving many incidents unreported and undercounted.
