Tensions between Algeria and the Alliance of Sahel States (ESA) members – Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger – have escalated following the destruction of a Malian military drone by Algeria on the night of 31 March to 1 April 2025. In solidarity with Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger strongly condemned Algeria’s actions and recalled their ambassadors for consultations. Algeria responded in kind, recalling its own ambassadors. Amid this diplomatic standoff, Algeria intensified its policy of deporting sub-Saharan migrants, launching a large-scale pushback operation at “Point Zero,” located 15 km from the Nigerien border town of Assamaka. 

This move appeared to be a direct response to the rising tensions with the ESA countries. Between 5 and 21 April 2025, approximately 4,000 migrants of various nationalities were expelled to the border town of Assamaka. The sudden influx quickly overwhelmed the town’s already limited reception capacity as well as the resources of humanitarian organisations operating in the area, such as the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and Alarm Phone Sahara. In response, authorities in the Agadez region, bordering Algeria, worked in collaboration with these organisations to implement an emergency humanitarian response plan aimed at addressing the immediate needs of the deported migrants.

Migrants, collateral damage of a diplomatic crisis

On the night of 31 March to 1 April 2025, the Algerian army shot down a Malian drone. While Malian authorities claimed the drone was aimed at pursuing terrorist groups within Malian territory, Algeria asserted that it had violated Algerian airspace. The incident sparked swift reactions. The following day, Burkina Faso and Niger, two of the three Member States of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), condemned Algeria’s actions toward Mali and promptly recalled home their ambassadors for consultations. In turn, Algeria condemned this diplomatic stance, recalling its ambassador to Niger and delaying the appointment of a new ambassador to Burkina Faso. Albeit the fallout did not end there. Beginning on 5 April 2025, Algeria initiated a large-scale deportation of migrants to Niger – an unprecedented move. Over 4,000 migrants were pushed back across the border, marking a sharp escalation in a growing diplomatic crisis with profound humane consequences.

Wave of migrant expulsions from Assamaka

Even before 5 April 2025, Niger had been recording the arrival of migrants expelled from Algeria and Libya. From the start of the year, authorities in the Agadez region reported a sharp increase in the number of migrants arriving at border checkpoints. According to the Brigadier General of the Agadez Region, Ibra Boulama Issa “border management services registered 7,125 migrants turned back between 1 January and 31 March 2025. This figure includes 5,148 Nigeriens and 1,977 individuals of other nationalities, hence, an average of 2,375 people per month.” In addition to these numbers, approximately 4,514 migrants from sub-Saharan countries, including Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, were also pushed back during this period. “The majority of these migrants arrive at Point Zero sick or seriously injured,” reported the NGO Alarm Phone Sahara (APS), emphasizing the urgent need for immediate medical care, particularly for women and children.

Agadez region’s Humanitarian response plan

As of 25 April 2025, the Agadez Region had recorded more than 11,000 migrants forcibly returned, most of them from Algeria. This influx has overwhelmed the reception capacity of both the Agadez authorities and their humanitarian partners. To respond effectively to the situation, the regional authorities decided to coordinate efforts with NGOs active in the sector. As a result, immediate humanitarian needs have been assessed at 616,376,100 CFA francs by the regional government. The identified needs include security, food, shelter, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), health services, transportation and operational coordination. In total, nationals from 23 countries, including Niger, are expected to benefit from this humanitarian response.

In the face of a humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the mass refoulement of migrants, the Response Plan for the Agadez region stands as an urgent and decisive initiative. In partnership with several NGOs, including the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and Alarm Phone Sahara, the Nigerien authorities are mobilising significant resources to address the needs of thousands of people expelled under perilous conditions. This includes transporting migrants from the border to Assamaka and providing medical assistance to those who are injured or ill. The operation has become essential amid escalating diplomatic tensions between Algeria and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), underscoring how political rifts can lead to human tragedies with far-reaching consequences on the ground.

The aim of the scheme, therefore, is to alleviate the suffering of migrants, particularly women and children, by providing emergency assistance in health, shelter, security, food, and sanitation. The allocation of over 616 million FCFA underscores the scale of the authorities’ commitment in the face of a crisis demanding solidarity and regional cooperation. Ultimately, this Response Plan goes beyond immediate relief; it represents a new approach to managing humanitarian crises, calling for vigilance and international mobilisation to prevent future tragedies. This tragic yet revealing challenge compels the international community to unite in restoring human dignity and safeguarding the most vulnerable populations in a region fraught with geopolitical uncertainty. Only through collective action can we hope to build a better, more resilient future.