Nigerien authorities have confirmed that more than 16,000 irregular African migrants have been expelled from Algeria to Niger between April and early June 2025, marking a sharp uptick in forced returns amid growing migratory pressure across North Africa. The deportations, mostly carried out via the In Guezzam border and through the desert city of Assamaka, include nationals from Mali, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso. Many migrants were reportedly abandoned in remote desert areas without adequate food, water, or shelter, forcing humanitarian organizations to intervene.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other aid agencies have sounded the alarm over worsening conditions at reception centers in northern Niger, warning of overcrowding, health risks, and lack of resources. The influx is straining Niger’s already limited capacity to manage returns while dealing with its own internal displacement and security challenges.
Rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have condemned the Algerian government for violating international norms by deporting migrants without due process. Regional organizations such as ECOWAS and the African Union are also urging a coordinated response to address the root causes of migration and ensure humane treatment of migrants.
Observers note that the rising expulsions are part of a broader trend across the Maghreb, as North African countries intensify crackdowns under pressure from European partners to stem irregular migration to Europe.
