Tunisia: police raids force migrant returns

Migrants in Tunisia say nightly police raids on informal camps have intensified fear and insecurity, forcing families to flee suddenly in panic to protect their belongings and loved ones, according to a report by France 24 via AFP on February 27th 2026.

Witnesses described how officers would arrive without warning after dark, triggering chaos as residents grabbed blankets, children and essential items while trying to escape.

Many migrants said the raids often resulted in the loss of personal possessions. Blankets and mobile phones, in particular, have become vital items for survival and communication, and their disappearance after police operations has deepened migrants’ vulnerability. Some said they only realised hours later that their few remaining belongings had been taken or lost in the confusion.

At the same time, Tunisia has implemented what it describes as a system of “voluntary returns”, offering migrants flights and financial assistance to return to their countries of origin. Last September, a WhatsApp group emerged in which organisers offered transportation to Tunis airport. More than 1,000 migrants reportedly joined the group, which humanitarian organisations believe is linked to state-supported return efforts.

Several migrants said they received cash payments before departure. Paul, a Cameroonian migrant who has since returned to Douala, said he was processed in Tunis and given 500 euros before being transported to the airport early in the morning. He said a group of migrants, including Cameroonians and Ivorians, were flown first to Algeria and later transferred onward to their home countries.

Migrants noted that these returns were carried out far more quickly than programmes run by the International Organization for Migration, which typically offer higher financial support but require longer processing periods.

Paul said his deteriorating health and lack of legal documentation influenced his decision to accept the return offer. Without residency papers, he said he could not access healthcare services despite living and working in Tunisia for over a year. While he acknowledged that economic opportunities in Tunisia were better than in Cameroon, he said the lack of freedom and access to essential services forced him to prioritise his health.

Although he expressed regret about leaving, Paul said the decision was necessary given his circumstances. Migrants and organisers claimed that hundreds of people were returned within a single week, though Tunisian authorities have not publicly confirmed those figures.

According to UN data, nearly 9,000 migrants were assisted in returning to their home countries from Tunisia in 2025, highlighting the scale of return movements amid growing migration pressures and tightening enforcement measures.

France 24 via AFP, Maghrebi.org