Coast Guard vessel sunk migrant boat ‘intentionally’ in Tunisia

Italian media have reported that Tunisia’s Coast Guard intentionally rammed and sank a boat carrying migrants before they could reach Italy, according to Middle East Monitor and agencies on November 21st.

Migration activist Majid Karbai said the incident happened on the night of November 7th, and that survivors claim the vessel, part of Tunisia’s navy, rammed a boat with 80 passengers including women, some pregnant, and children. 52 drowned, including a woman and her 3 year old child.

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“The survivors stayed at sea until a Tunisian fisherman rescued them and handed them over to the Coast Guard to hand over to Libyan security forces”, added the former Tunisian MP.

“It is unfortunate that the Tunisian Navy is involved in the killing of these people, most of whom are migrants and refugees from Sudan who have fled the horrors of war. Beware of such practices. There is international law and there are consequences, and such crimes are not subject to any statute of limitations time limit for prosecution,” explained Karbai. “It is unfortunate that we become the border guards of Europe and do its ‘dirty work’ for money.”

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He stated that the incident was reported by survivors and several Italian and international media outlets covered it.

It is not the first incident of its kind. Two years ago, there was a wave of condemnation in Tunisia following the release of a video showing members of Tunisia’s Coast Guard sinking a boat carrying irregular migrants.

Middle East Monitor