Nigerien, Malian, and Burkinabe nationals have allegedly been expelled from Algeria and left stranded in the harsh desert region along the Nigerien border, according to distressing accounts broadcast by Niger’s public television station, Tele Sahel.
These reported expulsions occur against a backdrop of escalating diplomatic tensions between Algeria and the member states of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Tele Sahel revealed that in recent days, several dozen migrants originating from Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso were forcibly pushed back by Algerian authorities to the desolate Assamaka region, situated on the border with Niger.
The testimonies gathered by the public media outlet paint a grim picture, alleging instances of physical violence, severe human rights violations, and disturbing reports of disappearances among those expelled. “When you’re Nigerien, Burkinabe, or Malian, you’re mistreated. There’s no room for negotiation,” one deportee recounted. Others spoke of fellow travelers vanishing during the ordeal, the ineffectiveness of their consular documents in preventing deportation, and harrowing accounts of sexual assault suffered while abandoned in the desert.
Another alleged victim testified to the brutal treatment, stating, “The police aren’t even civilians. They beat us themselves. They even forcibly shaved our heads,” denouncing the fate of hundreds of migrants who were reportedly unceremoniously turned back, often stripped of their personal belongings and left to fend for themselves in the unforgiving desert environment.
These reported mass deportations coincide with a rapid deterioration in diplomatic relations between Algeria and the three member countries of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) – Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. Following Bamako’s serious accusation of Algeria providing support to terrorism and the subsequent destruction of a Malian drone by Algerian forces, the governments of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso took the significant step of recalling their respective ambassadors from Algiers. Algeria responded in kind by recalling its ambassadors from both Mali and Niger and suspending the accreditation of its representative to Burkina Faso.
Amidst this tense diplomatic climate, Tele Sahel has expressed grave concern over the potential humanitarian consequences of these alleged pushbacks, which are reportedly taking place in remote and inaccessible areas without any apparent support or coordination with the relevant Nigerien authorities. The national television channel has issued a strong call for urgent mobilization by the international community to address this unfolding situation and prevent a potential large-scale humanitarian crisis in the border region. The reports raise serious questions about the treatment of migrants and the respect for their fundamental human rights in the context of strained interstate relations.
AC/Sf/fss/abj/APA