The Tunisian authorities have announced that they have rescued 635 illegal migrants of sub-Saharan nationalities off the coast of central Tunisia, on the night of Friday to last Saturday, following the sinking of their makeshift boats. National Guard units in the regions of Sfax and Mahdia managed to thwart 18 illegal immigration attempts that took place on the night of March 17 to 18, said the spokesman for the National Guard, in a statement.
Tunisian and Libyan territorial waters are considered a transit zone for most illegal migrant boats bound for Europe.