“Living Hell”: Sub-Saharan Migrants Victimized by Violence and Expulsions in Algeria

Under the title “Living Hell: How North Africa Prevents Migrants from Entering Europe,” the New York Times examines the controversial migration policies in the region. Although Algeria has not signed agreements with the European Union, it has intensified its expulsion operations, often accompanied by severe acts of violence. The American daily highlights the dire situation of sub-Saharan migrants at the Algeria-Niger border.

According to the report, Algerian authorities regularly abandon groups of migrants in desert areas near the Niger border, forcing them to walk long distances under scorching heat to reach inhabited areas. These expulsions, conducted without any assistance, place migrants in extreme conditions where hunger, thirst, and exhaustion can be fatal. Additionally, testimonies gathered speak of detentions marked by physical violence and inhumane treatment.

The phenomenon is not exclusive to Algeria. Other North African countries, such as Libya and Tunisia, also resort to mass expulsions, often violating human rights. The article points out that these practices are partially driven by bilateral agreements between the European Union and countries such as Tunisia, Morocco, and Mauritania. These agreements include financial support to curb migration flows to Europe, a strategy that seems effective: according to Frontex, illegal border crossings into Europe significantly decreased in 2024.

However, human rights advocates denounce serious abuses committed in the name of these restrictive policies. Sub-Saharan migrants expelled are often left without food or water, abandoned in inhospitable desert regions. In detention centers, they face torture, sexual violence, and near-starvation conditions, according to international organizations documenting these violations.

The New York Times concludes that this approach, while effective in reducing migration flows to Europe, fosters a climate of violence and injustice for migrants. As North African countries act as gatekeepers for the EU, the brutal expulsions and inhumane treatment inflicted on sub-Saharan migrants raise major ethical and humanitarian concerns.