At least 12 Gambians stranded in Tunisia have reportedly declined to return home, according to the ministry of foreign affairs.

“A total of fifty-two Gambian migrants were identified and processed in Tunisia by the visiting consular team but twelve out of the total number processed declined to return,” the ministry said.

“In Libya too, a total of one hundred and six five (165) were identified and granted exit visa for repatriation but only those under immigration detention, eighty-seven (87) out of the number agreed to join the flight and they arrived Banjul on Wednesday, 26th July 2023,” the statement added.

This comes after dozens of stranded Gambian migrants in Tunisia pleaded for evacuation support after they came under xenophobic attacks from Tunisians.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba