Algeria returns 370 migrants to Niger, including 38 children victims of criminal networks

Algeria repatriated to Niger a group of 370 Nigerien clandestine migrants, including 38 children, on 12 November, according to Hacen Kacimi, director for migrations at the Algerian Ministry of the Interior.

During a press conference covered by the news site Le Midi, Kacimi assured that the 38 children were begging on the streets of Algiers under the control of a criminal network. “The money collected by these children is intended for criminal organisations active in drug trafficking, human trafficking, arms trafficking and the support to terrorist groups in the Sahel region.”

The minors, of which the youngest could be only 5, were transported in unauthorised taxis and placed at strategic points in the capital such as underground entrances to beg for money. They could collect up to 50,000 Algerian dinars a day and be forced to beg for up to 14 consecutive hours. Extensively quoted by local news sites, Kacimi spoke out strongly against the exploitation and abuse of African migrant children by criminal gangs in Algeria. He assured that investigations are underway to bring the members of these networks to justice.

He also appealed to Algerians “not to encourage criminal gangs by giving money to these young beggars.” These children come from Niger and most of them might be suffering from serious diseases, reports Le Midi.

According to Kacim, in four years Algeria has repatriated 37,000 clandestine migrants who arrived on the national territory via Niger, reports TSA. “Every week, we receive 3,500 clandestine migrants from 24 African countries. We look after them and treat them in a humanitarian way,” he said.

TMP – 03/12/2018