A convoy of 60 buses carrying migrants expelled from Algeria arrived Sunday in Assamaka, a border town in northern Niger, signalling the beginning of a large-scale deportation exercise involving thousands of sub-Saharan Africans.
The buses, among a total of 400 vehicles expected in the coming hours, transported migrants of various African nationalities who had been living in Algeria. The convoy was escorted to the border by Algerian security forces.
Nigerien officials in Assamaka confirmed the arrival, describing the operation as one of the largest migrant returns witnessed in recent years.
“This is just the beginning,” a local official who requested anonymity. “We are preparing to receive thousands more in the coming days.”
The mass deportation comes amid strained diplomatic relations between Algeria and member states of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which includes Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The Nigerien government has recently reiterated its strong support for Mali, a move that observers say may have influenced Algeria’s renewed expulsion campaign.
Humanitarian agencies have expressed concern over the sudden influx, citing limited infrastructure and harsh desert conditions in Assamaka.
“This situation requires urgent international attention,” said a representative of a non-governmental organisation assisting arrivals at the border.
Algeria has previously carried out similar deportations, drawing criticism from human rights groups for alleged abuses and lack of coordination with countries of origin.
Niger’s authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the latest development.
