PROTESTS ERUPT IN TUNISIA AFTER MIGRANT BOAT SINKS OFF BEN GUERDANE

Protests erupted in Tunisia's Ben Guerdane after a migrant boat carrying 15 people sank off the country's southeastern coast. Twelve bodies have been recovered, two people remain missing and only one survivor was rescued. The tragedy has revived memories of a similar 2022 shipwreck that sparked weeks of protests over the authorities' handling of missing migrants. The central Mediterranean remains the world's deadliest migration route, with more than 900 people reported dead or missing this year, according to the IOM

Protests have erupted in the Tunisian city of Ben Guerdane following the sinking of a migrant boat that left the country's southeastern coast, killing at least 12 people and leaving two others missing.
The protests began on Saturday night, a day after the boat carrying 15 people sank while attempting to cross the Mediterranean towards Europe.
Fourteen of those on board were reportedly from Ben Guerdane, a marginalised city near Tunisia's border with Libya.

PROTESTERS BLOCK ROADS

Angry protesters blocked roads and set tyres on fire after news of the shipwreck spread through the city.
The incident has caused particular distress because many families in the region have lost relatives while attempting to cross the Mediterranean.
Only one person was rescued, while 12 bodies have been recovered. Search operations continued on Sunday, with local fishermen joining Tunisia's National Guard in efforts to locate the two missing passengers

BEN GUERDANE HAS FACED SIMILAR TRAGEDIES

The latest shipwreck has revived memories of another major tragedy in 2022, when a boat carrying 18 people from the region disappeared at sea.
The incident triggered weeks of protests, with families accusing authorities of failing to conduct adequate searches for their missing relatives.
Families also alleged that some recovered bodies were buried without being properly identified or without relatives being informed.
The 2022 tragedy became a symbol of the frustration felt by families in southern Tunisia who have spent years searching for loved ones who disappeared while attempting the dangerous journey to Europe.

SOUTHERN TUNISIA REMAINS A MIGRATION HUB

The coastal area between Ben Guerdane and Zarzis has long been an important departure point for migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean.
Despite a sharp decline in departures from Tunisia following a migration agreement between Tunisia and the European Union in 2023, dangerous crossings have continued.
The agreement provided Tunisia with financial and technical support, including assistance for border control and coast guard training, as part of efforts to reduce irregular migration and combat human trafficking.
The EU allocated about €105 million in migration-related support to Tunisia in 2023.

MEDITERRANEAN REMAINS DEADLIEST MIGRATION ROUTE

The continuing deaths demonstrate that efforts to reduce migration departures have not eliminated the risks facing people who attempt the crossing.
According to the International Organization for Migration, the central Mediterranean remains the world's deadliest migration route. More than 900 people have died or gone missing along the route this year.
Migrants often attempt the crossing in overcrowded or poorly equipped boats that are vulnerable to strong winds, rough seas, mechanical failure and capsizing.

FAMILIES CONTINUE TO SEARCH FOR RELATIVES

For communities in southern Tunisia, the issue goes beyond migration statistics.
Families in Ben Guerdane and nearby Zarzis have for years searched for relatives who disappeared at sea, often facing uncertainty over whether their loved ones survived, died or were buried without identification.
The latest tragedy is therefore likely to intensify demands for stronger search-and-rescue operations, better identification of recovered bodies and greater accountability from authorities.
For the families of the two people still missing, the search continues as fishermen and security forces scour the waters in the hope of finding them.