A boat carrying 15 migrants, believed to be en route to Italy, sank off the coast of Tunisia's southeastern city of Zarzis on Friday evening, resulting in at least 12 fatalities. The tragedy has led to violent protests in Ben Guerdane over the weekend, as demonstrators demanded better living conditions and economic development. The missing are still being searched for by volunteers, with only one survivor having been rescued by a commercial vessel after drifting at sea for nearly two days. The protesters, mainly from Ben Guerdane, have expressed their frustration over the lack of opportunities and years of marginalization, pushing young people to undertake dangerous sea crossings in search of a better life. The incident has sparked a wave of grief and anger, with some calling for a national day of mourning and others questioning the accountability for such tragedies. This is not the first time Tunisia has witnessed such incidents; similar tragedies have occurred in recent years, including the Kerkennah disaster in 2018 and another incident in Zarzis in 2022. The central Mediterranean is considered the deadliest migration route globally, with at least 821 migrants having died or gone missing on this route this year alone, according to the International Organization for Migration.