Tunisia Roundup: Political arrests, migrant maltreatment, drought

Fog causes road crash

On October 16, a tragic collision in Sidi Bouzid Province, Tunisia, resulted in the deaths of three individuals and injuries to two others. The accident, occurring in Sidi Ali Ben Aoun, was attributed to hazardous conditions due to dense fog. Notably, Tunisia has been grappling with a severe traffic safety crisis, recording over 4,100 accidents this year, leading to nearly 900 fatalities, reports Social News XYZ.

Drought

In Southern Africa, a historic drought persists, impacting an estimated 6.5 million people. This environmental crisis is linked to the previous year's El Niño phenomenon. The Mirage reports that the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has highlighted that 27 million individuals across nations such as Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are affected. With the lean season forecasted to peak in January, the WFP has requested $369 million in aid, but only 20% of this amount has been secured thus far.

Political arrests

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk has called on the Tunisian government to uphold democratic principles following a stringent crackdown on opposition leaders and activists as the country approached its presidential elections. According to Arab News, concerns surrounding the lack of due process are exacerbated by the arrest of over 100 political figures and the implementation of restrictive laws limiting electoral dispute resolutions. The UN has also raised alarms over Tunisia's recent presidential election, which saw a remarkably low voter turnout and allegations of process manipulation by President Kais Saied, who secured re-election with a striking 90.69% of the vote.

Migrant maltreatment

UN experts have raised alarms over the treatment of migrants, refugees, and human trafficking victims in Tunisia, citing severe human rights violations during rescue operations at sea, including physical violence and capsizing incidents. The reported death toll of 189 migrants during attempted crossings from January to July reflects a disturbing trend, exacerbated by arbitrary detentions, particularly at Tunisia's borders with Algeria and Libya. As reported by Arab News, survivors often encounter dire conditions upon disembarkation, facing further risks from border guards. Alarmingly, an increase in human trafficking and sexual exploitation, particularly of young girls, signals a critical humanitarian crisis, amidst ongoing European support for Tunisia's immigration management.

Calls to uphold rule of law

Volker Türk has expressed profound concerns regarding the treatment of candidates during the presidential campaign, where over 100 figures faced arrests and only a fraction were accepted by the elections authority. The UN chief highlighted the absence of due process in trials and the inability to reinstate excluded candidates, reiterating the pressing need for Tunisia to recommit to transitional justice and implement rule of law reforms, reports UN.