The Tunisian security authorities have stated that the Tunisian Coast Guard prevented more than 21,000 irregular migrants from entering Tunisian territories through its borders with Algeria and Libya.
According to what was reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP), the authorities added that the number of migrants crossing from the eastern borders was approximately four times as much as the number recorded last year, which amounted to 5,256 migrants.
The Tunisian authorities also announced that interceptions of migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean towards the Italian coasts increased by 22.5% in the first four months of this year compared to the same period in 2023.
The Libyan-Tunisian border, specifically the Al-Assa area, witnessed the influx of large numbers of migrants of different African nationalities coming from Tunisia, who entered Libyan territory in an attempt to cross the Mediterranean towards Europe.
AFP quoted international humanitarian organizations as saying that at least 5,500 migrants were pushed from Tunisia towards the border with Libya, and 3,000 others towards the border with Algeria late last year.
The agency indicated that among those displaced towards the border were a large number of those arrested by the Tunisian state as they attempted to leave for Europe.
