On June 17, 2023, Algerian convoys of trucks brought more than 400 people back to ground zero. These include women, the elderly and children. They were left to fend for themselves at the zero point which is the gateway to Niger from Algeria.

On the Nigerien side, humanitarian organizations quickly rushed to their aid. To better understand this situation, Dialogue Migration contacted Manzo Diallo, journalist, editor-in-chief of the newspaper AïrInfo and also a specialist in migration issues.

The conditions of their arrival on Nigerien territory

They were transported in trucks and then, literally “dumped” at point zero located in the middle of the desert 15 kilometers from the city of Assamaka in northern Niger. There are women who are still nursing their children, as well as old men, says Manzo Diallo, journalist and editor-in-chief of the newspaper AïrInfo based in the Agadez region. According to the journalist, on arrival, “these people expelled from Algeria looked tired and confused. It is a situation that suggests that their departure from Algeria was abrupt.” Alerted, humanitarian organizations assisted them with their transport to the city of Assamaka.  It is women and children who have been prioritized followed by the elderly, on this point of fall. “The other adults had to walk 15 km, under a blazing sun, to get to the city of Assamaka,” explains Manzo Diallo.

No notifications from Algeria

There is no official notification from Algeria which explains why they were sent back to Niger. But, according to Manzo Diallo, this attitude of the Algerian authorities would be motivated by a fight between the natives (Algerians) and these people.

The origins of these people rejected by Algeria

When they arrived on Nigerien territory, rumors announced that it was Algerians that Algeria had pushed back to Niger. However, according to investigations conducted by the Nigerien authorities, “these people are Malians, belonging to the Dawsak group of the Tuareg ethnic group,” said Manzo Diallo. They left Mali fleeing the armed conflicts in the northern zone and found refuge in Algeria. According to official sources in the Agadez region quoted by Manzo Diallo, this group of people has been living in Algeria since the invasion of northern Mali by either terrorist groups or Azawad separatists.

Why did Algeria choose Niger as a destination for these Malian refugees?

Since 17 June 2023, when Malian refugees were turned back   to Niger, questions have arisen from everywhere about why the Algerian authorities brought Malians to Niger instead of bringing them directly to Mali, which shares a border with it.  At the time of publication of this article, no explanation has been provided by Algeria. There is speculation that Algeria did this to prevent them from falling back into the situation these people fled a decade ago.