More than 3,500 undocumented migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa have voluntarily left Tunisia since the beginning of 2025, under a return assistance program coordinated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in partnership with Tunisian authorities and donor countries.

Tunisian National Guard spokesperson Houssem Eddine Jebabli told German news agency DPA on Wednesday that voluntary return flights are currently operating twice a week, with plans to increase frequency in the near future.

On Wednesday, 170 Guinean nationals departed Tunisia through Tunis-Carthage International Airport. Two days earlier, 147 migrants boarded commercial flights as part of the same program.

Tens of thousands of migrants seeking to cross the Mediterranean toward nearby Italian shores continue to face growing pressure to return home, as border controls tighten and legal residency options remain limited.

In 2024, over 7,000 migrants voluntarily returned from Tunisia under the same initiative, according to official figures. The program offers migrants humanitarian support and safe passage back to their home countries, positioning itself as an alternative to irregular migration and the dangers of Mediterranean crossings.