What's happened
The International Criminal Court is set to investigate allegations of crimes against humanity against Black migrants in Tunisia. Reports detail severe abuses, including sexual violence, by security forces amid increasing repression under President Kais Saied's government. This comes as Tunisia approaches elections on October 6, 2024.
Why it matters
What the papers say
The Independent reports that the ICC is receiving renewed requests for investigations into Tunisia's treatment of migrants, highlighting the brutal conditions faced by Black Africans. Al Jazeera emphasizes the role of EU-funded security forces in these abuses, while The Guardian details harrowing accounts of violence and neglect. Activists and MEPs are calling for accountability, contrasting with the Tunisian government's denials of wrongdoing. The Guardian also notes the implications of these abuses for EU migration policies, suggesting a need for a reassessment of financial support to Tunisia.
How we got here
Tunisian authorities have faced scrutiny for their treatment of migrants, particularly following a 2023 EU deal aimed at reducing migration. Reports of human rights abuses, including arbitrary arrests and violence against sub-Saharan Africans, have intensified, prompting calls for international accountability.
More on these topics
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Tunisia, officially the Republic of Tunisia, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa, covering 163,610 square kilometres. Its northernmost point, Cape Angela, is also the northernmost point on the African continent.
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The International Criminal Court is an intergovernmental organization and international tribunal that sits in The Hague, Netherlands.
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Sir Keir Rodney Starmer KCB QC MP is a British politician and former lawyer who has served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition since 2020. He has been Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015.
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Libya, officially the State of Libya, is a country in the Maghreb region in North Africa, bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad to the south, Niger to the southwest, Algeria to the west, and Tunisi
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The European Union is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe. Its members have a combined area of 4,233,255.3 km² and an estimated total population of about 447 million.
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Kais Saied is a Tunisian politician, jurist and former lecturer serving as the fifth President of Tunisia since October 2019. He was president of the Tunisian Association of Constitutional Law from 1995 to 2019.