Tunisia is in the process of signing several agreements with other African countries to encourage the voluntary return of irregular migrants. The announcement was made last week by Secretary of State to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mounir Ben Rjiba, who said that "the number of requests for voluntary repatriation is steadily increasing. Expulsions are increasing as are operations to counter attempts at irregular migration."

Initiative part of national strategy

Rjiba outlined the national strategy to counter irregular immigration, based on coordination with others - including EU nations and international organizations - during a session on irregular immigration at the country's parliament.

He noted that Tunisia is facing irregular migration due to its strategic position and its proximity to the EU. He also discussed international circumstances that have contributed to the phenomenon, in particular the political and security situation of numerous African countries and a decline in the role of some nations in curbing this phenomenon and in countering human trafficking and smuggling.

50 irregular migrants sentenced to 8 months in prison

Also last week, the Sousse court sentenced 50 irregular migrants from various countries in sub-Saharan Africa to eight months in prison for "illegal crossing of borders and illegal stays in the [national] territory," the Tunisian news agency TAP quoted local court spokesman Wissem Cherif as saying, adding that the hearing for 10 other migrants had been postponed to May 22.

These migrants were arrested during a recent large-scale security operation in Msaken and Boukhzar in the Sousse governorate. According to the National Guard, from the beginning of the year until the end of April, over 21,000 sub-Saharan migrants were stopped from entering the country.