TUNIS, Tunisia 

Tunisia on Monday said that it rescued 17 migrants and recovered the bodies of two people after their boat broke down at sea north of the country.

This came as maritime units from the northern region and the Tunisian Navy responded to a distress call from a boat carrying 19 Tunisian nationals attempting to migrate irregularly, according to a statement from the General Directorate of the National Guard.

It said authorities have detained four suspects believed to have been involved in organizing and facilitating the unauthorized voyage.

This incident follows another tragedy on Dec. 18, when Tunisian authorities recovered the bodies of 20 migrants off the coast of Sfax and rescued five others from sub-Saharan Africa.

According to the National Guard, between January and May 2024, Tunisian authorities retrieved the bodies of 462 migrants, compared to 714 in the same period in 2023. During the same period, 30,281 migrants were rescued in 2024, up from 21,652 the previous year.

Facing increasing economic and political crises, Tunisia has become a key departure point for irregular migration to Europe. Nearly every week, Tunisian authorities announce thwarting migration attempts.

In September 2023, the European Commission pledged €127 million ($132 million) in aid to Tunisia as part of a memorandum of understanding to address migration and other issues.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio