By Biran Gaye
One Guinean died after being reportedly shot by a Tunisian citizen shot as thousands of Sub-Saharan Africans mostly from Sudan, Mali, Gambia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, and other war-torn or poverty-stricken countries remained stranded following the destruction of their makeshift camps.
In a statement on 9 April 2025, Refugees In Libya said the victim was a 32-year-old Alseny Togbodoun from Guinea.
27-year-old Mustapha Tarawallie of Mali was shot in the back by Tunisian attackers near a private compound while trying to move from one camp to another between Kilometre 30 and Kilometre 34 near Sfax, the organization reports.
These migrants, according to Refugees In Libya, were just trying to walk—to find others, to stay together after the police evicted them from the camp they had been staying in, adding that the bullets hit Mustapha and tore through his back.
“His friends carried him in panic to a volunteer medic from the Migrant community. Twelve bullets were pulled from his body,” it says.
Without any shelter or any humanitarian support, the migrants walk the streets with the Tunisian citizen militias reportedly being heavy-handed toward them.
Since last week, Tunisian police and security forces have reportedly begun a violent and organised campaign against refugees and migrants living in makeshift camps across Sfax, Jebeniana, and El-Amara
In a footage shared by the organization, hundreds of stranded migrants could be seen lined up in front of the International Organization for Migration Office in Tunis, calling for swift humanitarian support and repatriation to their home countries.
These migrants got stuck in the North African country following their interception en route to Europe.
“We didn’t come to stay here in Tunisia, we came to cross to Europe,” one migrant explains. “We were prevented from passing to Europe; we agree.”
He called on authorities: “But we ask that our return to our countries be accelerated.”
Another migrant expressed similar sentiments, adding “I have been here for a year and a half. I choose to return because all conditions are difficult.”
These African migrants, driven from makeshift camps, got stranded in Tunisia as their camps were raided and burnt down.
According to the organization, they were given two options: register with the IOM and agree to be deported back “home,” or face expulsion by force to Libya or Algeria Last Wednesday.
With support from the European Union, Tunisia has been cracking down on illegal migrants and intercepting a dozen boats carrying migrants en route to Europe and later dumping them in the desert.
