Surge in Migrant Crossings Brings Tunisia’s Crisis to Europe
- Tunisians fleeing by sea at highest rate in at least a decade
- Exodus shows despair in nation seen as Arab Spring’s best hope
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Tunisia’s simmering political and economic crisis has fueled an exodus of youth fleeing to Europe, with attempted migration from the North African country rising to the highest since the Arab Spring more than a decade ago.
At least 45,421 Tunisians tried to or succeeded in crossing the Mediterranean by boat in the year to Oct. 26, according to Bloomberg calculations based on figures from local advocacy group FTDES. That compares with a total of 36,424 in 2011 in the aftermath of the uprising that ousted dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.