DR ‹ › On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, Algerian authorities handed over 22 young Moroccan migrants, including two women, through the Colonel Lotfi–Zouj Bghal border crossing, according to the Moroccan Association for the Assistance of Migrants in Vulnerable Situations. This is the second such handover since the start of the year, following the transfer of 16 young people on December 16, 2025. The migrants come from several cities, including Oujda, Berkane, Taounate, Fez, Ain Beni Mathar, Tangier, Khenifra, Taza, Settat, Zayo, Nador, and Ait Melloul. The association said it is currently monitoring more than 500 cases, including over 100 individuals undergoing deportation procedures, as well as detainees and prisoners being held in administrative custody pending the completion of legal formalities. It added that it receives new cases almost daily, some involving young Moroccans who have reportedly been handed initial prison sentences exceeding ten years. The association said it has previously contacted Algerian authorities regarding these cases. In the same statement, the group renewed its call for clarity on the fate of missing persons, whether Moroccan nationals or Algerian families searching for relatives. It said it has sent several letters to the relevant authorities urging faster action on humanitarian cases. The association also expressed concern over reports that some relatives of detainees were stopped at Algerian airports and sent back despite holding valid visas, and said it had addressed an open letter to Algeria's foreign minister on the issue. The association further called for the repatriation of the bodies of several deceased Moroccans, including Yassine Dazzaz, pending the completion of judicial and administrative procedures. It said it would continue its advocacy efforts and engage with national, regional, and international actors to follow up on these cases.
