Saadia Mosbah, an advocate against discrimination in Tunisia, was apprehended this week as part of an investigation into alleged money laundering activities. Mosbah, who leads the Mnemty association and is of African descent, was taken into custody while authorities conducted a search of her residence.
The arrest follows a social media post by Mosbah denouncing racism she encountered in relation to her advocacy efforts, particularly concerning accusations of assisting sub-Saharan African migrants. Bassem Trifi, the president of the Tunisian League for the Defense of Human Rights, highlighted the arrest as emblematic of the increasingly challenging circumstances faced by migrants and their supporters in Tunisia.
This development coincides with heightened governmental measures aimed at monitoring coastal areas, frequently utilized by migrants embarking on journeys toward Europe. During a national security council meeting addressing irregular migration, Tunisian President Kais Saied categorized associations receiving substantial foreign funding as “traitors and agents,” emphasizing the state’s primacy in managing migration and combating human trafficking.
While fewer migrants have undertaken the perilous Mediterranean crossing this year due to adverse weather conditions and reinforced border security, human rights organizations caution that these measures have not adequately safeguarded the tens of thousands of migrants stranded within Tunisia.
Recent events include the arrest of over 80 migrants in Tunis following confrontations with law enforcement during the clearance of encampments deemed disruptive to public order. Law enforcement utilized heavy machinery to dismantle the encampments near the headquarters of the U.N. refugee agency and International Organization for Migration, subsequently transporting the migrants to an undisclosed location outside the city.
Romdhane Ben Amor, a spokesperson for the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights, criticized the government’s approach, asserting that it exacerbates the crisis and perpetuates the notion of an insurmountable dilemma.
Furthermore, a report by a non-governmental organization revealed that 244 migrants, predominantly from outside Tunisia, have either perished or gone missing along the country’s Mediterranean coastline this year, with 24 bodies discovered just last week. Despite a decrease in undocumented migration attempts, Tunisian authorities report an increase in interceptions, affecting both Tunisian and transit migrants en route to Europe.
In April alone, authorities thwarted 209 migration attempts, preventing over 8,200 migrants, primarily from sub-Saharan Africa, from reaching Italy. The Tunisian Coast Guard has intercepted over 21,000 migrants attempting to reach Italy thus far in 2024.
European leaders, including Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, are intensifying efforts to manage migration flows to prevent disruptions along Italian shores. Despite endeavors to combat human trafficking and bolster border controls, thousands of migrants continue to traverse from Tunisia to Italian territories like Lampedusa.
The European Union pursues migration limitation strategies through development assistance and enhanced collaboration with neighboring governments. However, Tunisia’s president has reaffirmed his commitment to resisting the role of Europe’s “border guard.” Data indicates a significant reduction in migrants reaching Italy in 2024 compared to the previous year, with less than one-third of the volume recorded in the current year, as reported by Italy’s Interior Ministry.
AP
