Algeria gears towards massive expulsion of sub-Saharans purportedly because they propagate tuberculosis

Algerian authorities are gearing towards a massive expulsion of thousands of sub-Saharans, settled in the suburbs of Algiers, purportedly because they propagate tuberculosis

The expected expulsion order came in an official note from the Wali of Algiers, initialed by Mohammed Lamine Houari.

Sub-Saharan migrants are settled in the vicinity of Algiers, particularly in Sidi Moussa, Ain Larbaa and Ouled Salam, according to the Algerian regime. The military junta is engaged in a genuine manhunt, rounding up thousands of regular and irregular migrants in the streets, in their homes or in their workplaces.

The security forces proceed to the manu-militari arrest of the migrants before sending them to a deportation center 1,900 km south of Algiers. The migrants, including women and children, are then deported to the borders with Niger, where they are abandoned in the middle of the desert, withgout food nor water. More than 7,000 sub-Saharan migrants have been deported to Niger in recent months, according to humanitarian NGOs.

This new anti-migrant campaign orchestrated by the Algerian regime comes a few weeks after the wave against sub-Saharan migrants launched by Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed, who had advocated “urgent measures” against sub-Saharans, saying that their presence in Tunisia was “source of violence, crimes and unacceptable acts.”

Kaïs Saïed’s racist remarks had triggered general indignation in Africa and elsewhere in the world and were condemned by international and regional organizations, including the African Union.