Over 1,800 migrants reportedly forced out of Algeria towards Niger, claims human rights association.

Revised Output

A Bold Move: Algeria's Record Expulsion of Migrants to Niger

The Sahara Desert witnessed an unprecedented wave of migrants this month following a mass expulsion by Algerian authorities. Over 1,800 migrants without legal status in Algeria were shipped off to the Nigerien border in a record operation, as reported by Alarmphone Sahara, a group monitoring migration across the region.

Hailing from cities across Algeria, these migrants found themselves at a remote desert outpost known as "Point Zero". Abdou Aziz Chehou, their national coordinator at Alarmphone Sahara, confirmed this to The Associated Press. He further disclosed that these expulsions drove the total number of migrants arriving in the border town of Assamaka beyond the 4,000 mark this month.

It's important to note that these numbers exclude those who might attempt to return north to Algeria. Tensions between Algeria and its southern neighbors – Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger – are running high, with democratic governments ousted by military juntas aligned previously with Algiers. Actions taken by these countries, including the withdrawal of their ambassadors in Algeria over border security disputes, may have contributed to the escalating expulsion efforts.

For years, Algeria has acted as a stopping point for migrants seeking escape from poverty, conflict, or climate change, hoping to reach Europe. Their journey often involves crossing vast Sahara Desert landscapes and dangerous Mediterranean voyages. Increased patrols have stranded many of these migrants in transit countries, where human rights records are questionable, and humanitarian assistance is limited.

Sadly, this isn't Algeria's first mass expulsion of migrants – Alarmphone Sahara recorded over 30,000 expulsions in 2024. Countries like Morocco, Tunisia, and Libya have reported similar instances.

The deafening silence from both Algerian and Nigerien officials on the recent expulsions is notable. In the past, Nigerien authorities have expressed concern that such deportations violate a 2014 agreement that restricts the return of anyone except Nigerien nationals across the border. Notably, these expulsions rarely surface in Algerian press.

The significant increase in migrant numbers, driven by Algeria's mass expulsions, has been reported in general news, with over 1,800 migrants without legal status in Algeria apprehended this month.
In politics, the tensions between Algeria and its southern neighbors, such as Niger, have led to actions like expulsion efforts and border security disputes, which may have contributed to the current migration situation.
Despite the escalating number of migrant expulsions, it's rare for such incidents to appear in Algerian press, creating a deafening silence on the subject.
Climate change, apart from poverty and conflict, remains a significant factor driving migration, with many seeking to escape and reaching Algeria, a traditional stopping point before attempting to reach Europe.