The Mediterranean Migration Deal Nobody Talks About

Tunisian coast guard vessels, many supplied by Italy, now intercept migrant boats within hours of departure. Those intercepted are returned to Tunisia, where sub-Saharan migrants report being detained without legal process, beaten, and dumped at the Libyan and Algerian borders in desert areas with no food or water.

A UN fact-finding mission in early 2025 documented systematic abuse of migrants by Tunisian authorities, including forced disappearances and sexual violence. The EU has acknowledged the reports but has not conditioned funding on human rights improvements.