In a tragic turn of events off the southeastern coast of Tunisia, a migrant boat carrying 15 individuals sank late on Friday, leaving at least 12 dead and two still missing. The incident occurred approximately 14 nautical miles (26km) from Zarzis, sparking violent protests in Ben Guerdane over the weekend. Protesters are demanding better living conditions and economic development as they believe a lack of opportunities and years of marginalization push young people to undertake dangerous sea crossings to Europe. The boat was believed to be en route to Italy. One survivor, who had floated at sea for about 48 hours, was rescued by a commercial vessel. Tunisian authorities have recovered the bodies of 12 individuals and continue search efforts for the missing. Some in Tunisia are calling for a national day of mourning over the loss, with one lawmaker describing it as "the tragedy of a nation that sees its youth fleeing the hardships of the land only to be swallowed by the sea." The incident is reminiscent of similar tragedies in recent years, such as the Kerkennah disaster in 2018 and the Zarzis boat sinking in 2022. The central Mediterranean remains one of the deadliest migration routes globally, with at least 821 migrants having died or gone missing on this route this year, according to the International Organization for Migration.