Mass deportations continue as concerns grow over human rights violations and lack of due process
NIAMEY, Niger: A human rights watchdog has reported that more than 1,800 migrants were expelled from Algeria into Niger this week, in yet another wave of deportations that raises alarms over violations of international law and the treatment of vulnerable populations.
The expulsions, which reportedly took place over a span of several days, included women, children, and people of various nationalities — most of them from sub-Saharan Africa. Many of those expelled said they were detained without explanation in Algeria, held in overcrowded facilities, and then transported to the border with little food or water before being forced to walk into Niger’s desert regions.
“Inhumane and Illegal” Deportations
The Alarme Phone Sahara organization, which monitors migrant rights in the region, said in a statement that the expulsions occurred near the southern Algerian town of Tamanrasset and concluded near Assamaka, a remote desert town in northern Niger.
“The Algerian authorities continue to carry out mass expulsions without due process, violating human dignity and the rights of migrants,” the group stated. “These practices are inhumane and illegal under international norms.”
Eyewitness accounts collected by the organization detail how migrants were rounded up from urban centers and work sites, often without being allowed to collect their belongings or contact consulates.
Regional Tensions and Humanitarian Concerns
Algeria has defended its actions in the past, citing national security and irregular migration flows. However, human rights groups say the mass deportations amount to collective punishment and reflect a harsh crackdown on African migrants in the Maghreb.
“There is no legal framework being followed — no access to lawyers, no chance to appeal, no medical screening,” said Hamidou Boubacar, a Nigerien humanitarian worker in Agadez. “Some of those expelled are pregnant women and unaccompanied minors. It’s a humanitarian crisis in the making.”
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has confirmed that it is assisting some of the migrants in Assamaka and Agadez, offering shelter and voluntary return support. However, resources are stretched thin due to an increase in expulsions in recent months.
Growing Migration Crisis in West Africa
West and Central Africa remain deeply affected by conflict, climate change, and economic hardship — all of which drive migration. Many migrants initially travel north through Algeria hoping to reach Europe, but find themselves trapped in transit zones or forcibly returned to southern borders.
Rights groups are urging Algeria to halt deportations and for the African Union and international community to step in to protect migrant rights in the region. Niger, already struggling with food insecurity and political instability, has limited capacity to manage the growing number of deportees.
As of now, Algeria has not issued an official response to the latest accusations. The expulsions are part of a wider trend that has seen tens of thousands of migrants pushed into Niger since 2018.
Follow migration updates and regional human rights developments at @ArabNews.
Categories: Human Rights, Africa News, Migration
Tags: Algeria, Niger, Migrants, Deportation, Human Rights, Sub-Saharan Africa, Expulsions, Refugees
