Brussels - Capitals: Europe and the Arabs - Agencies
North African countries tried to send a message to neighboring countries on the other side of the Mediterranean stressing their commitment to confronting attempts at illegal immigration to the land of dreams in Europe, hours after European consultations that took place at the end of last week at high-level levels on how to confront the influx of new waves of immigration. And statements issued after a ministerial meeting in Brussels and a meeting between Italy, France and the European Commission on the sidelines of a meeting that brought together leaders of Mediterranean countries in Malta, during which they stressed the necessity of cooperation with North African countries. The Tunisian Ministry of the Interior announced that the large-scale security campaign that... It took place in the state of Sfax from September 27 to 29, resulting in the thwarting of 52 operations to surreptitiously cross the maritime border. According to what was reported by the Middle East News Agency on Sunday
The Interior Ministry reported - in a statement - that during the operations, 216 Tunisians, 667 nationalities of Sub-Saharan and Sahel African countries, and 73 of different nationalities were arrested, and 41 of them were detained, 10 attempts to cross the maritime borders were thwarted, and 26 people were arrested, including 14 individuals from African countries. South of the Sahara and the Sahel, 48 organizers and mediators of stowaway crossings were arrested, and 32 of them were detained.
She indicated that an amount of money estimated at approximately 44 thousand dinars, 1,250 euros, 14 cars, 3 trucks, 20 life jackets, 57 mobile phones, and two iron boats were destroyed, in addition to keeping 22 people of sub-Saharan African nationalities in order to enter Tunisian territory through crossings. Unofficial.
In the same context, forces affiliated with the Interim National Unity Government in Libya announced, on Saturday, the rescue of 110 illegal immigrants of several African nationalities who were on board two inflatable boats, off the coast of the city of Al-Khoms, northeast of the country, on their way to Europe.
The Chief of Staff of the Libyan Army, affiliated with the unity government, said in a statement: “Based on a report from the operations room of the Coast Guard and Port Security Service, members of the boat Ghat affiliated with the Central Sector of the Coast Guard and Port Security Service, headed by the Chief of Staff of the Naval Forces, on Saturday afternoon, carried out two rescue operations for two inflatable boats.” North-east of the fifth.
The statement added: "A number of 110 illegal immigrants of African nationalities were rescued. They were dropped off at the disembarkation point at the Al-Khoms naval base, and were handed over to the competent authorities after providing support and assistance to them."
During the past few years, Libya has turned into a starting point for illegal immigration trips to the other side of the Mediterranean, as immigrants, most of whom are of African nationality, search for a better life in Europe, which is complaining of an increasing number of arrivals to it through Libya.
These migration operations are run by gangs that take advantage of the political division and security chaos in the country, and are active in the northwestern regions of the country.