Lampedusa Airlines: what's behind all the migrant boats from Tunisia
Lampedusa is being flooded by boat migrants from West Africa, because people from this region can now travel to Tunisia without being at the mercy of human smuggling gangs along the way. Their revenue model has been taken over by the airline Tunisair.
More illegally crossing migrants enter Europe on a single day in Lampedusa than in the busiest weeks last year, and then in the whole of Italy. Twice as many boat migrants have already arrived on the small island as last year: 116,000.
These number dates from before last week (mid-September), when on Wednesday alone, as many as 7,000 migrants came ashore on the tiny island, with 6,000 inhabitants.
Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini of Italy accused people smugglers of establishing an ‘act of war’, by deliberately starting the crossing with so many boats at the same time. In recent months it has become increasingly busy at sea and in the port. As a result, France has closed its border with Italy again, which according to the Schengen Treaty is only allowed in emergency situations.
The smugglers, according to Salvini, have planned the small boats armada to put pressure on the European Union, about a deal against human trafficking with Tunesia. This pact was already under scrutiny.
There is dissatisfaction in Brussels and many member states about the migration deal that was negotiated with Tunisia in the summer by Prime Minister Mark Rutte and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni, together with Ursula von der Leyen (European Commission President). That deal would be heartless, because too few demands have been placed on the government in Tunis in terms of human rights.
Unwanted migrants are now sometimes abused or even left in the desert after being 'deported' across the border. These excesses have been widely reported in media worldwide.
Tunisair destinations
But far too little attention is paid to a big driver of the influx, according to Clingendael fellow Francesco Mascini, a specialist in the field of irregular migration who previously worked at the Dutch embassy in Tunis, coordinating in this field of work.
Why did the illegal migration flow to Italy is growing so fast? This has to do with Tunisian policy changes for travelers coming to the country. In spring, the period that tourists from Africa can spend in Tunisia visa-free was doubled to 180 days. More than enough time to find a human smuggler with a boat. According to Mascini, they are already waiting for the fortune seekers at the arrivals hall of the airport . This journey is also infinitely safer and faster than what has long been customary: crossing the Sahara overland, with human smugglers.
The land route has recently become extra complicated, because a coup took place in transit country Niger.
In the agreements that Prime Minister Rutte made with Meloni and Von der Leyen, nothing was agreed about the airlift to Tunis. This also goes for the 10-point plan presented by Von der Leyen last weekend.
The flights are operated by Tunisair, a 70% state-owned company. The regime is therefore reaping the benefits of the major crossing with the armada at Lampedusa.
It is striking how the flooding of this island is mirroring what is happening in the United States. There, it is even the Democratic leaders of New York who warn that society is being disrupted. That is remarkable, because this city previously declared itself a 'sanctuary city', a city that says it wants to welcome migrants with open arms.