At least 40 migrants, including children, perished when their boat sank off the coast of Mahdia, Tunisia, marking one of the deadliest maritime disasters in the region this year. The vessel, carrying approximately 70 people from sub-Saharan Africa, sank in the Mediterranean, with about 30 survivors rescued.
Tunisian authorities have launched an investigation into the incident’s causes and circumstances. The country faces increasing pressure to manage the flow of migrants fleeing conflict and poverty for better opportunities in Europe, a route known as one of the world’s most dangerous. In 2023, over 210,000 people attempted to cross the Central Mediterranean, with nearly 2,000 losing their lives and more than 60,000 intercepted and returned to African shores.
The European Union signed a $118 million deal with Tunisia in 2023 to combat irregular migration by curbing smuggling, strengthening borders, and facilitating migrant returns.
