Tunisia: 4,829 irregular migrants voluntarily returned to their countries since January 2026

Tunis, Aug 21 (KUNA) -- Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration, and Tunisians Abroad Mohamed Nafati announced on Friday that 4,829 irregular migrants have voluntarily returned to their countries of origin since January 2026, as part of the voluntary return and reintegration mechanism coordinated with the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Nafati stressed at a joint press conference with IOM Tunisia Chief of Mission Aziz Assamri that more than 25,000 irregular migrants have benefited from this mechanism since its inception and returned to their home countries.

The Tunisian minister emphasized the importance of continuing coordination with the IOM to accelerate the pace of voluntary return operations and ensure sustainable reintegration of beneficiaries in their countries of origin. He reaffirmed Tunisia’s position advocating for a comprehensive approach to migration issues based on genuine shared responsibility, respect for state sovereignty, human dignity, and human rights, as well as combating human trafficking networks and organized crime.

For his part, Assamri affirmed the IOM’s commitment to continuing its support for Tunisia’s efforts in migration governance, addressing the root causes of irregular migration, and advancing the implementation of the voluntary return mechanism. (End) S.B.M. / S.A.M.