Tunisian city of Sfax becomes hub for migrant crossings to Italy

FOCUS © FRANCE 24

In Tunisia, the number of migrants leaving for Italy has increased since the start of the year. Coastguard officials in the southeastern Sfax region say there's been a 300 percent increase compared to 2022. The region has over 150 kilometres of coastline and Sfax is also the country's economic capital, but it's now become a hub for crossings for both Tunisians and migrants from sub-Saharan Africa. President Kais Saied's racially charged speech on February 21 targeting Black migrants has pushed more of them to attempt the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean. Our correspondents report.