Tunisia accused by Amnesty of widespread human rights violations

Amnesty International spoke on 6th November where it accused Tunisia of committing “widespread” abuse against migrants, including rape and torture. Furthermore, they went onto criticise the EU’s culpability in these abuses, according to The New Arab plus agencies.

Tunisia is a major transit point for migrants seeking a better life in Europe by fleeing sub-Saharan African countries often suffering under war, mass poverty or strict authoritarianism. Oftentimes, reaching European countries is reliant on crossing through dangerous passages across the Mediterranean Sea where many drown. In response to this, Tunisia has cracked down on irregular migration and vowed to make sure the country doesn’t become a transit zone, deporting around 10,000 sub-Sahran migrants to their original nations.

Amnesty International, the global independent movement campaigning for humans rights worldwide, released an official report based on research conducted on 120 refugees and migrants from nations such as Guinea, Sudan and Sierra Leone between 2023 and 2025. In an official statement, they said “Tunisia’s migration and asylum system is now characterised by racist policing and widespread human rights violations.” They went on to criticise how the system “disregards the lives, safety and dignity of refugees and migrants, particularly those who are black.”

The organisation’s views were highly critical towards the Tunisian government’s stance on irregular migration, claiming racial hatred and xenophobia to be prevalent amongst the country’s highest officials. Moreover, Amnesty reportedly uncovered anecdotal cases of sexual violence, beatings and cruel torture committed by Tunisia’s National Guard against migrants.

Amnesty proceeded to slam the European Union for their 2023 agreement with Tunisia to tackle irregular migration. The EU’s agreement with Tunisia has not only been argued to have bolstered racial violence, but has also prompted complicity from the EU in allowing Sub-Saharan migrants to be trafficked and sold to Libyan gangs. This exists alongside other human rights abuses, such as Tunisia reportedly abandoning undocumented migrants in the desert, or absuing migrants in detention centres.

Tunisia’s treatment of migrants and their approach to tackling irregular migration flows has been staunchly criticised by human rights groups worldwide. However, as long as the EU backs these practices, there is unlikely to be any change enforced in Tunisia’s migrant policies.

The New Arab, Maghrebi.org