Nearly 600 migrants returned from Algeria rescued in Niger

Nearly 600 African migrants, "repressed" from Algeria and rescued in the desert, arrived mid-week in northern Niger, reported Sunday a local official. "For three days, a first wave of more than 180 Nigeriens has arrived in Agadez, followed by another (wave) of at least 400 foreigners," said Sunday a municipal official of Agadez, the great city of northern Niger , close to Algeria

"Terrible usual conditions" The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the "usual atrocious conditions" in which migrants were "abandoned" near the border with Niger. "According to their testimony, they were brought near the border," he said. "Left with a minimum of water and food", they then "walked a good fifty kilometers before being rescued". Among the repressed Nigerians, are "children and many women" of which "some have arrived sick."

Nigeriens are already supported by local authorities and other West Africans by the International Organization of Migration ( IOM), badured the municipal manager. In a tweet Friday, IOM Niger's representative, Giuseppe Loprete, said his agency had badisted 391 migrants of 16 nationalities left behind on the border with Niger and Algeria. Among these repressed, there are Ivorians, Senegalese, Guineans and Cameroonians.

18 rescue operations since the beginning of the year. Since the beginning of the year, IOM has already conducted "18 rescue operations" identical to the Algerian border and brought back 3,000 people. To deny the accusations of ill-treatment of sub-Saharan migrants, Algeria had invited the media in early July to follow the deportation under exemplary conditions of more than 300 of them to Niger.