A new diplomatic crisis is erupting between Algeria and yet another Sahel country. After Mali in December, Niger is now at odds with Algeria. On Wednesday, Niamey authorities summoned the Algerian ambassador to «protest» against the «violent» deportation of thousands of Nigerien migrants. The Algerian government and media remained silent on the issue. Only on Saturday, the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced, in a press release, that it had summoned the Nigerien ambassador «on Thursday». The meeting «focused on cooperation between the two countries in repatriating Niger nationals residing illegally on Algerian territory. This cooperation has been the subject of certain criticisms on the part of the Nigerien authorities, which the Algerian side considers unfounded», indicated the press release. «The ambassador of the Republic of Niger was reminded of the existence of a bilateral framework dedicated to this issue. Similarly, he was told that this framework must remain the privileged place for discussion and processing of all data and developments related to this issue», added the department headed by Ahmed Attaf. For the record, in February 2018, the International Organization for Migration and Amnesty International condemned the deportation by the Algerian authorities of thousands of irregular sub-Saharan migrants to Niger. Relations between Algiers and Niamey have been strained, particularly since the July 26, 2023 coup d'état. In October, the new authorities in Niger rejected the six-month transition proposed by Algerian mediation. «The government of the Republic of Niger rejects the said conclusions, while reiterating its desire to preserve ties of friendship and fraternity with Algeria», Niamey clarified in a press release. Mali, for its part, had summoned the Algerian ambassador on December 20 to protest, according to a statement, against «recurrent meetings at the highest levels in Algeria with people known for their hostility to the Malian government». On March 26, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune appointed new ambassadors to the Sahel countries, which have signed up to King Mohammed VI's initiative to give the countries of this region access to the Atlantic Ocean.
