Tunisia arrests smugglers in connection with sea crossings to Europe that led to four deaths and many more missing.

Tunisian authorities reportedly recovered the bodies of four migrants killed at sea on Saturday and arrested nine smugglers in connection with boat crossings to Italy that lead to the disappearance of close to two dozen people.

The National Guard became aware of the “unauthorized sailing operations” from several coastal towns after family members of the missing people reportedly contacted Tunisian authorities. The identities of the missing people were not revealed. 

Tunisia has become the primary transit point for unauthorized passage to Europe. Migrants come from both economically strapped Tunisia and conflict-ridden sub-Saharan Africa. 

Italy and the European Union signed cash agreements with Tunisia last year to staunch the flow of migrants to Europe’s shores. That has led to a threefold decrease in migrants making it to Italy in the first four months of 2024, according to the UNHCR.

But as the country increasingly cracks down on sea crossings to Europe, resentment has been mounting about sub-Saharan Africans setting up camp in Tunisia. UNHCR says more than 12,000 people are registered as refugees and asylum seekers in Tunisia. Hundreds of Tunisians marched in the streets of impoverished Jebeniana over the weekend demanding the migrants be expelled. 

Tunisia’s president Kais Saied has become increasingly vocal and hostile towards black African migrants passing through and residing in Tunisia. He is reportedly in the process of signing agreements with other African countries allowing for their repatriation.