The Tunisian Crisis and Migrations: Myths and Reality

Tunisia is facing two major crises. One is institutional, as the government resigned and President Kais Saied tasked the outgoing Interior Minister Hichem Mechichi to form a new executive. The other one is economical: the impact of confinement and the global recession triggered by the pandemic will push Tunisia into the worst recession of its independent history. In this context, migration toward Italy has restarted, causing a hysterical political and public opinion backlash, and many in Italy do not realize how diverse and problematic this issue is. Tunisians leaving the country have very different motivations and reasons, and the demographic transition is also making Tunisia more and more a country of destination, and also a hub, for sub-Saharan migrants. Looking ahead, these dynamics will pose an even more significant challenge to Italy and the EU.