More than 1,200 West African migrants, including Nigeriens, have been deported by Algeria to Niger since the announcement of the reopening of the land border between the two countries on July 14, the Organization said on Tuesday (July 27). International Migration Board (IOM).
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“
On July 18, an official convoy of 515 Nigerien returnees arrived from Algeria.
Already on July 16, 752 migrants from West Africa arrived on foot in Assamaka, the (Nigerien) town closest to the Algerian border
, ”the IOM office in Niger said Monday on its Facebook page. .
“
After their dangerous and trying journey
”, the migrants “
all received non-food items (hygiene kits, blankets, mats, etc.) thanks to funding from the Italian Ministry of the Interior
”, according to the text.
Serial expulsions since 2014
Algeria has expelled tens of thousands of irregular migrants from West and Central Africa since 2014, according to the United Nations.
Some of these migrants try to subsist in Algeria, but a large number mainly seek to reach Europe.
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Algerian and international NGOs have often accused the Algerian authorities of arbitrarily arresting and collectively expelling nationals of countries in sub-Saharan Africa, sometimes leaving them without water or food in the middle of the desert.
Algeria, which has no asylum legislation, regularly denies these accusations, denouncing a "
malicious campaign
".
The reopening of the land border between Algeria and Niger, closed for 16 months due to the coronavirus pandemic, to facilitate bilateral trade was announced on July 14 by Algerian President Abdelamadjid Tebboune during a visit from his Nigerian counterpart Mohamed Bazoum.