TUNIS/ROME: At least eight people drowned on Monday when a boat carrying dozens of mostly Tunisian migrants collided with a navy vessel off the country’s southeast coast, its Defense Ministry said.
According to testimony from survivors, there were between 70 and 80 people on board, International Organization for Migration (IOM) spokesman Flavio Di Giacomo said.
He said at least 20 people were missing and some 40, almost all Tunisians, had been rescued.
The ministry said eight bodies had been recovered after the collision with the Tunisian navy boat, which occurred 54km off the coast.
Italian news agency ANSA said the migrant vessel had sunk.
Libya has long been the busiest country of departure for a steady flow of migrants trying to reach the European Union from North Africa.
But activity on that route has declined since July as Libya’s coast guard and an armed group in the smuggling hub of Sabratha tightened controls.
Meanwhile, departures from Tunisia have picked up, many in wooden boats that have started landing on secluded Sicilian beaches, often in broad daylight.
A rescue mission after Monday’s collision was being coordinated by the Maltese coast guard, an Italian coast guard spokesman said. Two Italian coast guard ships, a finance police boat and a navy ship had been sent to assist, he said.
A Maltese plane was en route to the scene, a Maltese army spokesman said.
![]()
Tunisian migrant, navy boats collide; 8 bodies found
Tunisian migrant, navy boats collide; 8 bodies found
Sudan recovers 570 artefacts looted during war
PORT SUDAN: Sudanese authorities displayed ancient figurines, ornate vases and scarab-shaped amulets at a ceremony Tuesday in Port Sudan celebrating the recovery of more than 570 antiquities stolen from the national museum during the country’s long-running war.
The artefacts, arranged on large tables under heavy security, were recovered after months of investigation and brought to the wartime capital of Port Sudan.
The National Museum in Khartoum, which housed some of Sudan’s most important archaeological collections, was looted and badly damaged after the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized the capital in the early days of its war with the army, its former ally.
At the time, satellite images showed trucks carrying artefacts west, toward the vast region of Darfur — now completely under RSF control.
Since then, Sudanese authorities have worked with UNESCO and Interpol to track down the stolen items.
Authorities did not detail on Tuesday exactly how the artefacts were recovered.
“Sudan heritage is not only of national importance, it is a treasure of humanity,” said UNESCO’s representative in Sudan, Ahmed Junaid, referring to international efforts to combat illicit trafficking of cultural property.
“Many people do not know the value of the objects displayed on the tables, but they reflect the identity of the nation and its history,” said Sudan’s finance minister Gibril Ibrahim.
Khalid Aleisir, minister of information and culture announced a “financial reward” for anyone returning antiquities to the authorities, without specifying an amount.
Officials estimate that the recovered items account for about 30 percent of the objects looted from the museum.
Still missing are the contents of the so-called “gold room,” the museum’s most valuable collection, which included ancient jewelry and 24-carat gold pieces, some nearly 8,000 years old.
The artefacts, arranged on large tables under heavy security, were recovered after months of investigation and brought to the wartime capital of Port Sudan.
The National Museum in Khartoum, which housed some of Sudan’s most important archaeological collections, was looted and badly damaged after the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized the capital in the early days of its war with the army, its former ally.
At the time, satellite images showed trucks carrying artefacts west, toward the vast region of Darfur — now completely under RSF control.
Since then, Sudanese authorities have worked with UNESCO and Interpol to track down the stolen items.
Authorities did not detail on Tuesday exactly how the artefacts were recovered.
“Sudan heritage is not only of national importance, it is a treasure of humanity,” said UNESCO’s representative in Sudan, Ahmed Junaid, referring to international efforts to combat illicit trafficking of cultural property.
“Many people do not know the value of the objects displayed on the tables, but they reflect the identity of the nation and its history,” said Sudan’s finance minister Gibril Ibrahim.
Khalid Aleisir, minister of information and culture announced a “financial reward” for anyone returning antiquities to the authorities, without specifying an amount.
Officials estimate that the recovered items account for about 30 percent of the objects looted from the museum.
Still missing are the contents of the so-called “gold room,” the museum’s most valuable collection, which included ancient jewelry and 24-carat gold pieces, some nearly 8,000 years old.
Latest updates
© 2026 SAUDI RESEARCH & PUBLISHING COMPANY, All Rights Reserved And subject to Terms of Use Agreement.