Tunisians demand truth and justice for the Zarzis boat tragedy

Like any transition period, the first decade of post-revolution Tunisia was characterized by various kinds of political, social, and economic turmoil. Kais Saied’s constitutional coup in July 2021 was a breath of fresh air for many Tunisians who saw this shift of power as a beacon of hope and an opportunity for a better future.

However, they couldn’t have been more wrong as the Tunisian president’s grab for power only deepened the political and social crisis. Last July, despite a low voter turnout (25%) and the lack of credibility of the electoral commission (l'ISIE), the Tunisian constitutional referendum passed, as expected.

Many Tunisians, especially those who voted in favour of the establishment of the third Republic, waited for drastic changes. As usual, Saied’s empty words remained only airy-fairy promises. At the same time, various problems piled up; aside from the political and social crisis, deepened by the Tunisian president’s grab of power last year, the Russian invasion of Ukraine also negatively impacted the country’s food security.

"With no decent employment opportunities or food on the table, many young people and families chose to flee their country, in search of a brighter future"

The war, which triggered a global food crisis, impacted countries of the Global South more intensely, as they were already more food-import dependent. For some time now, Tunisia has struggled with recurrent food shortages; many essential food items such as sugar, coffee, milk, rice, and bottled water have been missing from grocery store shelves.

When available, these essential products, of which prices spiked, are rationed. Long queues at supermarkets and bakeries became a familiar landscape. An atmosphere of weariness and resignation reigned over Tunisians, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds.

With no decent employment opportunities or food on the table, many young people and families chose to flee their country, in search of a brighter future. Since the beginning of this year, more than 13,000 Tunisians, including 2,000 minors, crossed the Mediterranean in risky boats to reach Italy.

After the 2011 Revolution and especially during the past few years, illegal immigration has become commonplace for many young Tunisians. During the last years, it became frequent to hear about young people not making it to Italy and ending up swallowed by the sea.

Kais Saied's autocratic rule over Tunisia has led to a political climate dominated by backhanded deals and nepotism. With irregular migration reaching unprecedented levels, many wonder Saied's intentions ⬇ https://t.co/bnioCDl7EK

— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) September 18, 2022

The latest tragedy of the Mediterranean, which happened last September, and involved the drowning of 18 Tunisian people from Zarzis in south-eastern Tunisia went viral among citizens. The huge loss of human life and the mourning families’ pain were shared by many Tunisians all across the country.

Aside from this national grief, many voices denounced the silence and non-reactivity of the Tunisian authorities, who didn’t make any official statements regarding this tragedy. Saied and the heads of government were especially targeted in this popular discontent.

In addition, the victims’ families spoke against the absence of efforts to look for their children’s corpses. Since the Tunisian government failed once more to fulfil its duty, it was the fishermen, who often rescue illegal immigrants whose boats sink, who volunteered to look for the drowned bodies and bring them back to their families.

But before public anger reached a boiling point, the government sent the Police Maritime Unit to search for the remaining bodies, in an attempt to calm the heated situation. However, they only added fuel to the fire by burying the bodies, without letting the families know, in the unidentified foreigners’ cemetery.

Things degenerated into chaos quickly when the grieving families found out that the state didn’t even bother to DNA test the corpses. Quickly, they invaded the cemetery, and dug up the graves looking for their children. The fact that all 18 victims came from the same neighbourhood in Zarzis. The inconsolable families’ despair was so immense that people would congratulate the lucky ones who found their child’s corpse.

On social media, some members of the privileged classes blamed the victims and their families for undertaking such risky journeys, like journalist Maya Ksouri who criticized parents who give their children money to secure a spot on a boat.

For more than a month now, massive protests involving thousands of citizens have taken place daily in the coastal city, demanding a serious investigation of the boat incident. A local syndicate called for a general strike involving public officials and city businesses. Despite the different opinions regarding the Zarzis tragedy, everyone denounced the lack of responsiveness from authorities and leadership, especially the president, well-known for his populism.

"The atmosphere of weariness that has prevailed in Tunisia for some time, deepened by a social-political crisis and an economic recession, has prevented the younger generation from dreaming about spreading their wings in a country that became too small for the ambitions of its citizens"

It took Saied more than a month to come out of his silence and offer his condolences to the families. The Tunisian president didn’t even bother going to Zarzis to console the citizens, and only released a statement where he called for a “deep investigation” regarding the boat’s sinking. While the victims’ families, Zarzis inhabitants, and Tunisian citizens were mourning, he was busy demonizing his political rivals and maintaining the veneer of a stable country to the West.

The main goal of young Tunisians choosing immigration through the dangerous sea journey has always been improving their economic conditions and quality of life. However, it is first and foremost dignity they seek in these European countries, which they think will grant them more freedom and rights than their own.

The atmosphere of weariness that has prevailed in Tunisia for some time, deepened by a social-political crisis and an economic recession, has prevented the younger generation from dreaming about spreading their wings in a country that became too small for the ambitions of its citizens.

High levels of police violence, as well as the apathy of authorities turning a blind eye to the struggles of youth, have contributed to making them feel they aren't part of this country anymore. According to the National Observatory of Migration, 65% of Tunisians, including 90% of people under 30, intend to leave the country. The intentions to immigrate are higher in coastal regions and among university graduates.

Today, in coffee shops, family meetings, or friends’ gatherings, immigration has become a hot topic. While the more privileged ones, who can afford the high visa fees, deal with the West’s arbitrariness in choosing whom to let in or not, the less fortunate ones put their lives at stake chasing dignity.

A peaceful protest was held on 6th of September by families from different African countries (Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and Mali) who lost loved ones in the sea route of Zarzis, which has become one of the deadliest sea routes in the Mediterranean. The bereaved families gathered to support each other, fight against oblivion, demand truth and justice, and fight for their and their loved ones' dignity.

Tharwa Boulifi is a Tunisian freelancer who writes about feminism, human rights, and social justice. Her work has appeared in Teen Vogue, Newsweek, the New African, African Arguments.

Follow her on Twitter: @TharwaBoulifi

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Opinions expressed in this article remain those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The New Arab, its editorial board or staff, or the author's