Reports from Sfax, Tunisia’s second-largest city, describe intensified raids and detentions targeting immigrants. Police have recently arrested hundreds, sometimes entering the dwellings where people live. Between five hundred and seven hundred individuals have been forcibly moved toward the Libyan border since last Sunday. Many are left with no reliable means of support as they find themselves stranded near a desert military district that stands between the two nations. So far, the majority have not been able to enterLibya, according to a field source. Among those deported are families with children, pregnant women, and individuals in regular legal status in Tunisia, according to a complaint filed with Human Rights Watch (HRW).
“We are on the border between Tunisia and Libya, along the coast,” one detained individual told HRW. “They beat us. We have many people who are wounded here. There are children who have not eaten for days and are forced to drink sea water.” An asylum seeker from the Ivory Coast spoke to the organization on a Tuesday, noting that deportees come from several African countries, including Cameroon, Guinea, Chad, Sudan, and Senegal, among others. HRW documents that at least 29 children and three pregnant individuals are included in testimonies gathered from those interviewed. Some of the asylum seekers are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and are students at local universities.
Most of those forcibly deported report violence by authorities. They describe the destruction of nearly all of their personal phones and the coercive stripping away of basic means of communication. A spokesperson for HRW, Lauren Seibert, a researcher in refugee and immigration rights, stated that unlawful mass deportations and mistreatment at the border are not only shocking but also violate international law.
shot and beaten
Accounts from the border indicate that several people died or were killed between July 2 and July 5 in the border region. Some were shot, others beaten by Tunisian security forces or the national guard. HRW notes that Libyan men carrying machetes or other weapons reportedly robbed some deportees and perpetrated sexual violence against a large number of women who had managed to cross into Libya in the separation zone or while seeking food. The organization emphasizes that these testimonies come from affected individuals but remain unconfirmed by on-the-ground NGOs in the immediate area.
Several international and local non-governmental organizations attempting to verify events have faced access constraints to the border zone. A coalition of about a dozen Tunisian and international groups issued a joint statement urging Tunisian authorities to allow non-governmental organizations and health emergency services access to the migrant population. The aim is to monitor conditions, ensure basic care, and document abuses without delay.
Tensions in Sfax, already high in recent months, intensified after local demonstrations and broader campaigns against immigrants. Reports indicate clashes and attacks on sub-Saharan residents, some of which have led to the death of a Tunisian resident, underscoring the volatile atmosphere. The port city remains a critical point for migrants attempting to reach Europe, with boats frequently departing from nearby beaches.
wave of racism
Tunisia has grown increasingly unwelcoming toward migrants, a trend that has gained momentum after a presidential address. In mid-February, the president urged a swift reduction in irregular migration and accused migrants of contributing to violence and crime. The president also suggested that immigration was altering Tunisia’s demographic balance, portraying the country as losing its Arab and Muslim identity and becoming more African. The remarks coincided with a period of significant economic and social strain and appeared to be part of broader efforts to solidify political power.
Rights organizations inside and outside Tunisia condemned the speech as discriminatory and unfounded. The rhetoric has reportedly affected the daily lives of many migrants: some lost their jobs or faced eviction from rental housing due to fears of retaliation by employers or property owners. In the first half of the year, Tunisian observers report that thousands of migrants were detained on suspicions of irregular entry, reflecting a climate of heightened scrutiny and fear that drives people to leave or hide.