Watan-Thirteen Sudanese migrants have lost their lives while the search continues for 27 others missing off the eastern coast of Tunisia following the sinking of their boat.

The spokesperson for the Monastir Court, Farid Ben Jaha, stated that 42 migrants had set off from the shores of the Jebeniana area in the province of Sfax (eastern Tunisia).

He added that two migrants were rescued and the number of missing persons increased from 17 to 27 migrants. All these migrants were men and they had refugee cards.

While indicating that an investigation has been opened to determine responsibilities, the possibility that the migrants may have been exploited in human trafficking or involved in forming a criminal network to reach Europe illegally is not ruled out.

Ben Jaha confirmed that operations are still ongoing to search for other migrants.

Tunisia, a common migration destination

It is known that Tunisia, along with Libya, represents a main departure point for thousands of migrants seeking to reach Europe.

Interceptions of migrant travel

Up until November 2023, the Tunisian National Guard intercepted 69,963 migrants compared to 31,297 during the same period in 2022, according to official statistics.

While the International Organization for Migration says that over 2,270 people died in 2023 in the central Mediterranean Sea while attempting to reach European shores illegally, an increase of 60% from the previous year.