A record number. At least 31,404 people were expelled from Algeria to Niger in 2024, announced the Nigerien NGO Alarme Phone Sahara (APS), reports Le FigaroMonday January 13. This incomplete figure “exceeds all documented figures from previous years”, notes the association which helps migrants in the desert between the two countries. For comparison, in 2023, the NGO counted 26,031 migrants who had been turned back from Algeria, a transit point before crossing to Europe.
In addition, APS denounces the “violent treatment” even “mortals” exercised against irregular migrants. These are expelled “in inhumane conditions” with “in the worst case, fatal consequences”alarms the NGO in a press release.
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Arrested in roundups then abandoned in the desert
In September, the communications manager, Moctar Dan Yaye, explained that the migrants were “arrested during raids in town, at their homes, at their workplace or at the Tunisian border” Then “grouped together in Tamanrasset (southern Algeria) before being transported in trucks to Niger”. People, who may be injured, exhausted and sick, are then abandoned in the desert border area.
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The Nigerien authorities summoned the Algerian ambassador in April to « protester » against “violent character” of these repression operations. For its part, Algiers summoned the Niger ambassador on the subject and judged “baseless” the allegations made by their neighbor.
