On the same night, coast guard vessels thwarted 14 other boats carrying a total of 435 migrants attempting a similar journey from central and southern regions of Tunisia, Jbabli said.
VIOLENCE IN TUNISIA: PRESIDENT ACCUSED OF 'COUP' AS TENSIONS ESCALATE OVER PARLIAMENT'S SUSPENSION
Migrants from sub-Saharan Africa are rescued by the Tunisian Coast Guard off the coast of central Tunisian on Oct. 4, 2022. The Tunisian Coast Guard recovered 54 bodies from a sinking boat of the countries coast on Wednesday night, 14 others were killed in the accident. (FETHI BELAID/AFP via Getty Images)
People fleeing conflict or poverty routinely take boats from Tunisian shores toward Europe, even though the central Mediterranean is the most dangerous migration route in the world, according to the International Organization for Migration. Many are from sub-Saharan Africa, but Tunisians and people of other nationalities are also among those risking the journey.
Tunisian authorities have stepped up arrests of Africans without residency papers in recent weeks after President Kais Saied lashed out at sub-Saharan migrants. The comments fanned a surge in racist incidents targeting Black Africans in Tunisia.