By Ebi Kesiena
Algeria has forcibly deported more than 16,000 irregular African migrants to Niger, accounting for over half of the total expulsions recorded last year. According to official sources, the deportations have raised concerns among human rights groups and local authorities.
An official source told AFP on Thursday that, in recent weeks, Algeria has intensified its efforts to expel migrants, with over 8,000 individuals deported in May alone. The migrants, including women and children, were reportedly forced to return to Niger in “brutal conditions”.
The deportations have sparked criticism from local NGOs, including Alarm Phone Sahara, which has demanded an immediate halt to the round-ups and mass expulsions. The group claims that the migrants’ rights are being violated and that the deportations are putting lives at risk.
Nigerien authorities have also expressed concerns over the impact of the deportations on their country’s security and humanitarian situation. In mid-May, the government announced plans to repatriate some 4,000 migrants to their home countries by July to avoid a humanitarian disaster in the north.
The issue of migrant deportations has been a contentious one in Algeria, with human rights groups calling for greater protections for vulnerable populations. As the situation continues to unfold, concerns remain about the treatment and welfare of those affected.
