In a record-setting move, Algerian authorities forcibly expelled over 1,800 migrants to the Nigerien border earlier this month, escalating concerns about human rights violations and regional diplomatic strains. This latest operation was revealed by Alarmphone Sahara, a Niger-based human rights organization that monitors migration across the Sahel and Sahara regions.
Abdou Aziz Chehou, the national coordinator of Alarmphone Sahara, told The Associated Press that 1,845 individuals were rounded up in various Algerian cities and bussed to the harsh desert region known as “Point Zero” near the town of Assamaka in Niger. The mass expulsion took place on April 19, marking the largest single-day deportation this year.
“This is a humanitarian emergency. These are people without food, water, or shelter, left in the desert,” Chehou said. “They were simply dropped at the border, abandoned in one of the harshest environments on Earth.”
According to Chehou, this latest wave has pushed the number of expelled migrants arriving in Assamaka in April alone to more than 4,000. He added that the figure does not include those who may have attempted to re-enter Algeria, a common occurrence among desperate migrants seeking better opportunities or asylum.
A Crisis at the Crossroads of Poverty and Conflict
Algeria has long been a key transit point for migrants fleeing poverty, conflict, and the effects of climate change from sub-Saharan Africa. Many of these migrants aim to reach Europe via the Mediterranean, often risking their lives crossing vast deserts before attempting perilous sea journeys.
However, increased security patrols along the North African coast have left growing numbers stranded in countries with limited humanitarian support and questionable human rights records. Algeria, along with its neighbors Morocco, Tunisia, and Libya, has frequently been accused of carrying out mass deportations and “pushbacks” of migrants without due process.
Alarmphone Sahara reported that more than 30,000 migrants were expelled from Algeria in 2024 alone—a figure that reflects a sharp rise in forced removals in the region.
“These expulsions often involve arbitrary arrests, detention in inhumane conditions, and transport in overcrowded trucks,” Chehou said. “Migrants report being beaten, robbed, and left in the desert without assistance.”
Diplomatic Fallout with Southern Neighbors
This surge in deportations comes amid rising diplomatic tensions between Algeria and its southern neighbors—Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso—all now governed by military juntas that overthrew their previously elected governments. Earlier this month, the three countries withdrew their ambassadors from Algiers in protest of what they described as Algeria’s lack of cooperation on border security and migration issues.
Though Algerian and Nigerien officials have remained silent on the April 19 deportation, such mass expulsions are rarely acknowledged in Algerian state media and often go unreported. In past statements, Nigerien authorities have criticized the practice, citing a 2014 bilateral agreement that limits deportations across the border to Nigerien nationals only.
“This agreement was supposed to protect non-Nigerien migrants from being dumped in our territory,” a Nigerien official said on condition of anonymity. “But that line has been crossed repeatedly.”
Left in Limbo
The remote border town of Assamaka, the first entry point into Niger from Algeria, is ill-equipped to handle the massive influx of deportees. According to humanitarian workers on the ground, the town lacks adequate shelter, food, medical care, and sanitation facilities to support the thousands arriving each week.
“These migrants are left with nothing. Some are sick, others are malnourished, and many are traumatized by their experiences,” said a field coordinator for an international NGO operating in the area. “Assamaka is simply overwhelmed.”
The migrants represent a diverse mix of nationalities, including people from Guinea, Sudan, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Mali. Many report spending months—sometimes years—trying to reach Algeria or Libya in the hopes of eventually crossing to Europe.
Now stranded in Niger, most face an uncertain future. Without legal papers or financial means, their options are limited. Many will likely be forced to return to their home countries through repatriation programs, though some may again attempt the dangerous journey northward.
Calls for International Action
Human rights organizations are calling on both Algerian authorities and international bodies to intervene and halt the escalating migrant crisis.
“Mass expulsions violate international law, especially when they occur without proper asylum procedures or the chance to contest deportation,” said a spokesperson for Amnesty International. “Algeria must be held accountable for these actions, and the international community must step up to protect vulnerable migrants.”
So far, however, there has been little response from global actors, with much of the focus on other crises in the region. But with the humanitarian toll rising, pressure is mounting for urgent action.
“These are people, not numbers,” Chehou emphasized. “They deserve dignity, protection, and a chance at a better life.”
As deportations continue and diplomatic rifts deepen, Niger faces the burden of absorbing thousands of unwanted and vulnerable individuals—a challenge it may not be able to meet without substantial international assistance.
