9000 illegal migrants in Algerian prisons

Coming from 55 African and Arab countries

9000 illegal migrants in Algerian prisons

El Khabar, 13 May 2007

Moroccans ranked first among Arab countries / Asian illegal migrant, a new order in the issue

During the last six years the Algerian justice has put more than 9000 illegal migrants in prisons among 35 000 ones arrested during the same period.
The illegal migrants barge from 55 State mainly the African Sahel countries, some Maghreban states then the Middle east mainly Syria, according to national gendarmerie figures. Since 2000 so far, the Algerian authorities have expelled more than 32 thousand illegal migrants. When it comes to Sahel states, Niger is at the forefront in terms of illegal migrant’s statistics, followed by Mali and Nigeria. As for Maghreban states Morocco is ranked the first, then Tunisia, Libya and Mauritania. Illegal comes from the Middle East are mainly originated from Syria and Egypt.
According to experts, human trafficking networks activity is focused in Niger-Janet-Libya-Italy, in addition to two other major roads namely Mali-Niger-Europe especially Spain, as for those who failed getting infiltrated through the Algerian borders they go through Mali-Mauritania-Tindouf-Morocco.
During our visit guided by border guard fifth group commander in Algeria-Niger and Algeria-Libya borders, we discovered that death, anger, thirst or being devoured by wild animals is common fate of illegal migrants.
According to border guard fifth group commander, 60 to 70-member group of illegal migrants costs the government public finance department more than 53 million cents in terms of food, health care, and transportation to their countries. Public finance department losses reached during the last six years more than 3.2 billion centimes.
The border area in Tlemcen west of Algeria near Maghnia Wilaya is still the favourite place of African migrants dreaming about reaching the other bank of the Mediterranean. Yet the illegal migration is not limited to African origins migrants but also Asians are competing with them recently especially Hindis among whom at least 150 illegal migrants have been arrested.
Way illegal migrants use to survive are different but most of them become professionals in theft and money fraud, as judiciary police services in Tlemcen arrested a network specialised in Algerian money fraud led by three people from Mali.

2007-05-13
By S.R/ A.C/ Translated by N. K