Tunisia has become a country of residence for migrants, said National Guard spokesman Houssem Eddine Jebabli, noting that the majority of irregular migrants in Tunisia come from sub-Saharan African countries. Speaking on Friday at the International Symposium on "Immigration Issues in the Mediterranean: Media Coverage and Approaches," organised by the TAP news agency on November 23 and 24, Jebabli added that the growing activities of human trafficking networks are leading a significant number of migrants to choose Tunisia as their country of residence, while others are opting for Europe through irregular migration routes. The coastguard carries out rescue operations as part of its humanitarian role, but its efforts to provide assistance and combat irregular border crossings are hampered by criminal activities, as some migrants threaten to throw children from their boats if they are approached, he pointed out. On the other hand, the spokesman stressed that the National Guard units are confronted with crimin al activities committed by suspects suspected of human trafficking and organising irregular migration. He stressed that some migrants have built metal boats themselves in an attempt to migrate. He revealed that investigations have shown that the majority of irregular migrants choose the central region (coasts of Sfax, Kerkennah, Mahdia), pointing out that migrants from sub-Saharan Africa are mainly present in the city of Sfax, which hosts the country's largest port. The spokesman said that sub-Saharan African migrants choose Sfax because of the need to find work in the craft and port industries. He noted that some of these migrants acquire outboard motors and build boats without safety measures. He concluded that the fight against irregular migration is not limited to the security aspect, but also includes social and cultural dimensions, adding that some migrants choose to come to Tunisia because of its geographical proximity to Europe. "A significant number of migrants contact international organisations with the intention of "settling" in Tunisia, which is a challenge that requires the involvement of all countries". In response, several participants in the symposium stressed that the fight against irregular migration should be aimed at combating trafficking networks, stressing that migrants themselves are victims of these networks. The symposium will conclude on Friday evening in the presence of representatives of Mediterranean news agencies. A dialogue workshop will be held with the participation of journalists from Mediterranean media institutions, with the aim of formulating an ethical charter on the media and migration. Source: EN - Agence Tunis Afrique Presse