Nigerien authorities are expressing their strong opposition to the deportations of migrants orchestrated by Algeria to their territory. General Mohamed Toumba, Niger's Minister of the Interior, voiced this anger during a meeting with the director of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). According to him, these deportations "contravene the principles of good cooperation and international treaties. These acts are regrettable and unacceptable." Nigerien Radio, which reported these remarks, emphasizes that "Niamey denounces these repatriation operations" carried out without prior notice to Niger's transitional government. According to the same source, there is "an increase" in the number of migrants sent back by Algeria to Nigerien borders. "In April, 4,000 people were turned back, arriving in Assamaka," at the extreme north of Niger, the public media specifies. Last week, 1,141 irregular migrants from sub-Saharan Africa and Asia were expelled from Algeria to Assamaka. In Algiers, this new wave of expulsions was accompanied on social media by racist messages such as "Algeria for Algerians" or "The people demand the expulsion of sub-Saharan migrants," reports a local media outlet. In 2024, Algeria expelled more than 30,000 irregular migrants to Niger, compared to 26,000 in 2023.
