Between August 1 and August 12, 2024, Algerian authorities expelled more than 2,000 migrants to the Nigerien border, according to the association Alarme Phone Sahara (APS). These individuals were left near the desert town of Essamaka, approximately 15 kilometers from a transit center operated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The expulsion process, which often involves the confiscation of migrants' possessions, has been described as dehumanizing by APS Coordinator Aziz Chehou. Reports indicate that migrants, including children and elderly individuals, were stripped of their belongings and separated from family members during these operations. Since January 2024, approximately 25,000 people of various nationalities have been expelled from Algeria to Niger under similar conditions.