Alarme Phone Sahara assisting deported individuals, Assamaka, 18 December 2025
After a wave of mass deportations attracted the attention of the Nigerien and international media in April 2025, deportation convoys from Algeria to the desert on the Niger border, near the village of Assamaka, continued on a large scale throughout 2025:
The Alarm Phone Sahara team in Assamaka documented at least 34,236 people deported from Algeria in official and unofficial convoys between January and December 2025.
Individuals deported and abandoned in the desert, Assamaka, 20 July 2025
At the same time, it is certain that the actual number far exceeds the documented figures, given that in several cases, local structures were unable to record the number of people taken away in these convoys.
The conditions in which people are deported by the Algerian police and gendarmerie remain precarious and painful. This is especially true for people dropped off in the desert at Point Zero, 15 km from Assamaka, by ‘unofficial’ convoys, but also for Nigerien citizens, most of whom are loaded onto ‘official’ deportation convoys.
The Algerian security forces spare no one. Regularly, many women and children, often even babies, are among those deported. Sometimes this even affects people with disabilities, such as the blind. Many people arrive with injuries and trauma inflicted by the security forces.
A blind man with other deportees, Assamaka, 9 August 2025
The collaboration between Maghreb countries in the fight against people on the move, encouraged by EU Member States, and the chain deportations from Tunisia and Algeria are one of the reasons why, in 2024 and 2025, even more people were put on deportation convoys than in previous years.
The Alarme Phone Sahara team provides practical and tireless solidarity on the ground: they travel by tricycle to Point Zero to pick up weakened and injured people who have been abandoned in the desert. They provide them with first aid in the form of water and food kits. They take them to the infirmary.
Alarme Phone Sahara assisting deportees and distributing water, Assamaka, 29 October 2025
Alarme Phone Sahara assisting deportees and distributing shoe kits, Assamaka, 24 August 2025
Alarme Phone Sahara assisting deported individuals with its tricycles, Assamaka, 20 July 2025
People killed by the conditions of deportation
The Alarm Phone Sahara team in Assamaka has documented seven cases of deaths caused by the conditions of deportation during the year 2025:
02.03.2025: A Malian national, upon arriving in Assamaka, dies because of a beating received in Algeria by the security forces. The Alarm Phone Sahara whistleblower team buries him on the spot.
19.04.2025: An Ivorian national dies in Assamaka. He is buried by the Alarm Phone Sahara team.
21.04.2025: A Guinean national in a group of people deported in an ‘unofficial’ convoy and dumped in the desert outside Assamaka dies. The Alarm Phone Sahara team attends the funeral at the local cemetery.
22 April 2025: Two deceased persons are discovered in the desert 10 km and 12 km west of Assamaka. Based on their condition, one of the two persons died a few days earlier and the other significantly longer ago. IOM health workers and the gendarmerie take care of their burial.
21 September: A Guinean national dies during or after deportation in the deportation convoy
28 September: A Nigerien national dies during or after deportation in the deportation convoy
Alarm Phone Sahara shares the grief of the relatives of these people who were deprived of their lives in appalling conditions and demands an end to the inhumane and deadly pushbacks from Algeria.
The situation in Assamaka remains precarious. Acts of protest by people outraged at being stranded.
In Assamaka, the humanitarian situation remains precarious. Due to the high number of mass deportations, thousands of people regularly find themselves stranded in Assamaka. Given the traumatic experiences of violence at the border and during deportations, and with no alternatives available, many see no other solution than to return to their country of origin. But even ‘voluntary return’, a condition set by the IOM for accepting people into its camp, is delayed for many. In order to leave Assamaka and travel to Arlit or Agadez, the country of origin must confirm the nationality of the person concerned. In addition, the IOM's resources for implementing the ‘voluntary return’ programme are limited. As a result, many deportees find themselves stuck in the desert border village of Assamaka: they cannot afford to return to their country of origin or migrate north.
This indefinite wait drives many people to despair, and those affected regularly respond with protests. In the days leading up to 20 November 2025, a group of people from Nigeria, who had been refused permission to leave Assamaka, decided to set off on foot across the desert towards Arlit. Some, who eventually decided to turn back, were then refused access to the IOM camp in Assamaka.
Alarme Phone Sahara expresses its concern at the repressive response of the IOM, which is responding to the understandable discontent and protests of those who have experienced deportation with measures such as exclusion from the camp. We call instead for humane and supportive solutions, in cooperation with those affected.
Alarme Phone Sahara also observes with concern the incessant waves of deportations from the Maghreb countries, which affect thousands of people every year and often create dead-end situations.
For this reason, Alarme Phone Sahara demands:
No more deaths!
- Stop all deportations and refoulements from Algeria, Tunisia and Libya!
- Respect for human rights and freedom of movement for people on the move!
- No to anti-migration agreements between the European Union and the Maghreb states!
Incomplete chronology of deportations from Algeria to the Niger border at Assamaka from June to December 2025:
25 June 2025: 685 people, including 65 women, 8 underage girls, 15 underage boys and 597 men, deported in an unofficial convoy.
Among them were 48 nationals from Cameroon, 6 from Burkina Faso, 104 from Mali, 10 from Liberia, 287 from Nigeria, 6 from Sierra Leone, 22 from Côte d'Ivoire, 114 from Guinea Conakry, 18 from Benin, 60 from Niger, 5 from Ghana, 2 from Togo, one person from Eritrea, one from Gambia and one from Senegal.
01.07.2025: 467 people, including 49 women, 6 underage girls, 6 underage boys, including babies, and 406 men, deported in an unofficial convoy.
Among them were 30 nationals from Cameroon, 51 from Mali, 6 from Liberia, 169 from Nigeria, 13 from Sierra Leone, 29 from Côte d'Ivoire, 81 from Guinea Conakry, 18 from Benin, 2 from Ghana, 5 from Gambia, 7 from Senegal, 41 from Somalia, 6 from Sudan, 6 from Chad, one person from Congo Brazzaville, one from Burkina Faso and one from Togo.
04.07.2025: 1,059 people, including 49 women, 88 underage girls, 86 underage boys and 836 men, deported in an official convoy.
Among them were 969 nationals of Niger, 88 of Nigeria and two of Guinea Conakry.
13.07. 2025: 393 people, including 23 women, 3 underage girls, 6 underage boys and 361 men, deported in an unofficial convoy.
Among them were 45 nationals from Mali, 273 from Nigeria, 14 from Côte d'Ivoire, 28 from Guinea Conakry, 1 from Ghana, 5 from Gambia, 5 from Senegal, 3 from Togo, 5 from Niger, one person from Burkina Faso, one from the Central African Republic, one from Sierra Leone and one from Cameroon.
15.07. 2025: 668 people, including 49 women, 52 underage girls, 62 underage boys and 505 men, deported in an official convoy.
Among them were 658 nationals from Niger, 6 from Nigeria and 4 from Sudan.
20.07. 2025: 332 people, including 27 women, 7 underage girls, 8 underage boys and 290 men, deported in an unofficial convoy.
Among them were 98 nationals from Mali, 57 from Nigeria, 82 from Guinea Conakry, 3 from Gambia, 7 from Senegal, 4 from Burkina Faso, 6 from Sierra Leone, 6 from Cameroon, 5 from Benin, 2 from Chad, 45 from Sudan and 3 from Somalia.
15.07. 2025: 261 people, including 20 women, 17 underage girls, 13 underage boys and 211 men, deported in an official convoy.
Among them were 254 nationals from Niger and 7 from Nigeria.
27.07. 2025: 215 people, including 11 women, 2 underage boys and 202 men, deported in an unofficial convoy.
Among them were 51 nationals from Mali, 53 from Nigeria, 21 from Guinea Conakry, 9 from Gambia, 4 from Senegal, 5 from Burkina Faso, 3 from Sierra Leone, 8 from Cameroon, 3 from Sudan, 23 from Ivory Coast and 35 from Niger.
28.07.2025: 116 people deported in an unofficial convoy.
Among them were 110 nationals from Niger, 5 from Nigeria and one person from Burkina Faso.
29.07. 2025: 1,086 people, including 47 women, 74 underage girls, 38 underage boys and 927 men, deported in an official convoy consisting of 19 lorries and 2 vans.
Among them were 966 nationals from Niger, 76 from Nigeria, 13 from Sudan and one person from Mali.
The 13 Sudanese nationals were immediately returned to Algeria by the Nigerien police.
04.08.2025: 175 people deported in an unofficial convoy and dropped off at Point Zero during the night.
Among them were 82 nationals from Mali, 10 from Niger, 36 from Guinea Conakry, 22 from Côte d'Ivoire and 25 from Nigeria.
05.08.2025: 745 people, including 52 women, 70 underage girls, 46 underage boys and 577 men, deported in an official convoy.
Among them were 670 nationals from Niger, 69 from Nigeria, 4 from Cameroon, one person from Togo and one from Mali.
09.08.2025: 181 people, including 23 women, 3 underage girls, 3 underage boys and 152 men, deported in an unofficial convoy and dropped off at Point Zero.
Among them were 37 nationals from Mali, 29 from Guinea Conakry, 10 from Côte d'Ivoire, 41 from Nigeria, 18 from Benin, 3 from Burkina Faso, 22 from Cameroon, 2 from Congo Brazzaville, 3 from Gambia and 3 from Ghana.
Among those deported was a blind man walking with a cane.
09.08.2025: 865 people, including 44 women, 82 underage girls, 47 underage boys and 692 men, were deported in an official convoy consisting of 15 lorries and a van.
Among them were 864 nationals of Niger and one person from Benin.
16.08.2025: 212 people, including 11 women, 4 underage girls, 2 underage boys and 195 men, deported in an unofficial convoy and dropped off at Point Zero.
Among them were 24 nationals from Mali, 12 from Niger, 73 from Guinea Conakry, 15 from Côte d'Ivoire, 35 from Nigeria, 3 from Benin, 3 from Burkina Faso, 3 from Kenya, 9 from Chad, 19 from Sierra Leone, 2 from Syria, 24 from Sudan, one person from Senegal, and one from Cameroon.
17.08. 2025: 727 people, including 41 women, 54 underage girls, 30 underage boys and 602 men, were deported in an official convoy consisting of 18 lorries and two vans.
Among them were 726 nationals of Niger and one person from Benin.
23.08. 2025: 620 people, including 6 women, 2 underage girls, 5 underage boys and 607 men, deported in an unofficial convoy and dropped off at Point Zero.
Among them were 178 nationals from Mali, 18 from Niger, 91 from Guinea Conakry, 17 from Côte d'Ivoire, 168 from Nigeria, 9 from Benin, 6 from Burkina Faso, 13 from Chad, 9 from Sierra Leone, 37 from Sudan, 6 from Senegal, 39 from Cameroon, 9 from Gambia, 5 from Ghana, 3 from Ethiopia, 4 from Liberia and 9 from Togo.
The Alarm Phone Sahara team distributed kits to those who had been deported without shoes, picking them up at Point Zero.
23.08.2025: 546 people, including 31 women, 35 underage girls, 28 underage boys and 452 men, deported in an official convoy.
Among them were 533 nationals from Niger, 12 from Nigeria and one person from Burkina Faso.
29.08. 2025: 566 people, including 3 women, one underage boy and 562 men, deported in an unofficial convoy and dropped off at Point Zero.
Among them were 91 nationals from Mali, 23 from Niger, 125 from Guinea Conakry, 46 from Côte d'Ivoire, 111 from Nigeria, 45 from Benin, 19 from Burkina Faso, 13 from Chad, 6 from Sierra Leone, 47 from Sudan, 26 from Cameroon, 7 from Gambia, 6 from Liberia and one person from Ghana.
The Sudanese and Chadian nationals were returned to Algeria.
30.08. 2025: 772 nationals of Niger, including 58 women, 44 minor girls, 67 minor boys and 603 men, deported in an official convoy.
30.08. 2025: 22 people, including 11 women, 3 underage girls, 3 underage boys and 5 men, deported in an unofficial convoy and dropped off at Point Zero.
Among them were 20 nationals from Guinea Conakry and two from Sierra Leone.
07.09. 2025: 212 people, including 8 women, 4 underage girls, 3 underage boys and 197 men, deported in an unofficial convoy and dropped off at Point Zero.
Among them were 88 nationals from Mali, 5 from Niger, 31 from Guinea Conakry, 20 from Côte d'Ivoire, 44 from Nigeria, 4 from Benin, 6 from Burkina Faso, 2 from Sierra Leone, 6 from Cameroon, 3 from Gambia and 3 from Togo.
07.09.2025: 1,013 nationals from Niger, including 68 women, 100 underage girls, 103 underage boys and 742 men, deported in an official convoy.
12.09.2025: 59 people, including two women, one underage girl, two underage boys and 54 men, deported in an unofficial convoy and dropped off at Point Zero.
Among them were 12 nationals from Nigeria, 37 from Niger, 3 from Mali, 4 from Côte d'Ivoire and 3 from Burkina Faso.
12.09. 2025: 463 people, including 26 women, 26 underage girls, 11 underage boys and 400 men, were deported in an official convoy consisting of six lorries and a van.
Among them were 421 nationals from Niger, 38 from Nigeria, 3 from Benin and one person from Mali.
14.09.2025: 193 people, including 11 women, 3 underage girls, 5 underage boys and 174 men, deported in an unofficial convoy and dropped off at Point Zero.
Among them were 65 nationals from Mali, 31 from Guinea Conakry, 14 from Côte d'Ivoire, 19 from Nigeria, 8 from Benin, 7 from Burkina Faso, 11 from Cameroon, 6 from Gambia, 8 from Niger, 23 from Guinea Bissau and one person from Senegal.
16.09. 2025: 141 people, including two underage boys and 139 men, were deported in an unofficial convoy and dropped off at Point Zero.
Among them were 137 nationals from Niger, three from Togo and one from Nigeria.
16.09. 2025: 900 people, including 55 women, 95 underage girls, 93 underage boys and 657 men, were deported in an official convoy.
Among them were 877 nationals of Niger, 12 of Nigeria, 4 of Mali, 2 of Cameroon, 2 of Guinea Conakry and 3 of Togo.
21.09. 2025: 529 people, including 41 women, 16 underage girls, and 472 men, deported in an unofficial convoy and dropped off at Point Zero.
Among them were 73 nationals from Mali, 47 from Guinea Conakry, 16 from Côte d'Ivoire, 54 from Nigeria, 19 from Benin, 34 from Cameroon, 4 from Gambia, 249 from Niger, 24 from Sudan, 4 from Sierra Leone, two from Senegal, one person from Togo, one from Liberia, and one from Burkina Faso.
According to the Alarme Phone Sahara team, one migrant of Guinean nationality died.
23.09.2025: 1,108 people, including 58 women, 100 underage girls, 105 underage boys and 845 men, were deported in an official convoy.
Among them were 998 nationals of Niger, 74 from Nigeria, 25 from Mali, 2 from Cameroon, 2 from Benin, 2 from Burkina Faso, 2 from Côte d'Ivoire and 3 from Chad.
28.09. 2025: 257 people, including 17 women, 6 underage girls, one underage boy and 233 men, deported in an unofficial convoy and dropped off at Point Zero.
Among them were 58 nationals from Mali, 52 from Guinea Conakry, 15 from Côte d'Ivoire, 44 from Nigeria, 4 from Benin, 21 from Cameroon, 30 from Niger, 4 from Sudan, 2 from Senegal, 6 from Togo, 7 from Burkina Faso, 8 from the Comoros, 4 from Chad and one person from Gambia.
According to the Alarme Phone Sahara team, one migrant of Nigerien nationality died.
30.09.2025: 980 people, including 28 women, 40 underage girls, 70 underage boys and 845 men, were deported in an official convoy of 17 lorries and two vans.
Among them were 942 nationals of Niger, 30 of Nigeria, 6 of Mali and 2 of Cameroon.
25.10.2025: 744 people, including 57 women, 56 underage girls, 67 underage boys and 564 men, deported in an official convoy.
25.10. 2025: 179 people, including 4 women, 2 underage girls and 173 men, deported in an unofficial convoy and dropped off at Point Zero.
Among them were 46 nationals from Mali, 40 from Guinea Conakry, 13 from Côte d'Ivoire, 16 from Nigeria, 13 from Benin, 17 from Cameroon, 15 from Sudan, 7 from Senegal, 6 from Burkina Faso and 4 from Ethiopia.
29.10. 2025: 291 people, including 20 women, 12 underage girls, 12 underage boys and 247 men, were deported in an unofficial convoy and dropped off at Point Zero.
Among them were 72 nationals from Mali, 86 from Guinea Conakry, 11 from Côte d'Ivoire, 20 from Nigeria, 8 from Benin, 33 from Cameroon, 8 from Niger, 2 from Sudan, 7 from Senegal, 9 from Burkina Faso, 4 from Chad, 6 from Gambia, 22 from Sierra Leone, 2 from Congo Brazzaville and one person from Togo.
31.10. 2025: 1,117 people, including 45 women, 66 underage girls, 52 underage boys and 954 men, deported in an official convoy aboard 22 lorries and 2 vans.
Among them were 1,029 nationals of Niger, 50 of Nigeria, 12 of Mali, 3 of Côte d'Ivoire, 7 of Guinea Conakry, 8 of Benin, 4 of Chad, 3 of Liberia and one person from Togo.
04.11.2025: 455 people, including 70 women, 30 underage girls, 18 underage boys and 337 men, deported in an official convoy aboard seven lorries and one van.
Among them were 420 nationals of Niger and 35 of Nigeria.
04.11.2025: 253 people, including 22 women, 3 underage girls, 6 underage boys and 222 men, deported in an unofficial convoy and dropped off at Point Zero.
Among them were 80 nationals from Mali, 79 from Guinea Conakry, 11 from Côte d'Ivoire, 43 from Nigeria, 11 from Benin, 3 from Cameroon, 4 from Sudan, 18 from Sierra Leone, 2 from Liberia, one person from Ghana and one from Senegal.
08.11.2025: 394 people, including 37 women, 13 underage girls, 10 underage boys and 334 men, were deported in an unofficial convoy and dropped off at Point Zero.
Among them were 90 nationals from Mali, 89 from Guinea Conakry, 12 from Côte d'Ivoire, 68 from Nigeria, 12 from Benin, 34 from Cameroon, 2 from Sudan, 9 from Sierra Leone, 5 from Ghana, 6 from Senegal, 45 from Burkina Faso, 9 from Gambia, 5 from Niger, 5 from Chad, two from Togo and one person from Liberia.
10.11. 2025: 720 people, including 58 women, 59 underage girls, 72 underage boys and 531 men, were deported in an official convoy of 12 lorries and two vans.
Among them were 556 nationals of Niger, 52 from Nigeria, 75 from Chad, 8 from Benin, 25 from Mali, two from Guinea Conakry, one person from Cameroon and one from Gambia.
10.11. 2025: 71 Nigerien men deported in an unofficial convoy and dropped off at Point Zero.
15.11. 2025: 353 people, including 17 women, 5 underage girls, 5 underage boys and 326 men, deported in an unofficial convoy and dropped off at Point Zero.
Among them were 60 nationals from Mali, 77 from Guinea Conakry, 11 from Côte d'Ivoire, 79 from Nigeria, 20 from Cameroon, 9 from Sierra Leone, two from Senegal, 4 from Burkina Faso, two from Gambia, 86 from Niger, two from Liberia and one person from Chad.
17.11. 2025: 963 people, including 83 women, 66 underage girls, 106 underage boys and 708 men, deported in an official convoy aboard 16 lorries and two vans.
Among them were 960 nationals from Niger and three from Nigeria.
22.11. 2025: 623 people, including 47 women, 22 underage girls, 27 underage boys and 527 men, were deported in an unofficial convoy and dropped off at Point Zero.
Among them were 174 nationals from Mali, 262 from Guinea Conakry, 18 from Côte d'Ivoire, 79 from Nigeria, 9 from Cameroon, 11 from Sierra Leone, 15 from Burkina Faso, two from Gambia, 17 from Niger, 8 from Liberia, 7 from Benin, 4 from Congo Brazzaville, 8 from Sudan, 8 from Chad and one person from Togo.
24.11. 2025: 708 people, including 20 women, 24 underage girls, 17 underage boys and 647 men, were deported in an official convoy of 14 lorries and two vans.
Among them were 673 nationals of Niger, 8 of Nigeria, 21 of Mali, 5 of Chad, and one person from Sudan.
29.11. 2025: 177 people deported in an unofficial convoy and dropped off at Point Zero.
Among them were 19 nationals from Mali, 7 from Guinea Conakry, 2 from Côte d'Ivoire, 39 from Nigeria, 2 from Cameroon, 4 from Sierra Leone, 3 from Burkina Faso, 90 from Niger, 10 from Benin, and one person from Chad.
04.12. 2025: 353 people, including 10 women, 2 underage girls, 10 underage boys and 331 men, were deported in an unofficial convoy and dropped off at Point Zero.
Among them were 65 nationals from Mali, 91 from Guinea Conakry, 10 from Côte d'Ivoire, 43 from Nigeria, 16 from Cameroon, 17 from Sierra Leone, 14 from Burkina Faso, 30 from Niger, 2 from Liberia, 35 from Benin, 5 from Sudan, 18 from Chad, 5 from Togo and 2 from Senegal.
05.12.2025: 34 people deported in an unofficial convoy and dropped off at Point Zero.
Among them were 19 nationals from Mali, 4 from Guinea Conakry, 3 from Ivory Coast, 6 from Cameroon, one person from Gambia and one from Nigeria.
06.12.2025: 629 people, including 16 women, 25 underage girls, 10 underage boys and 578 men, deported in an official convoy.
Among them were 613 nationals of Niger and 16 of Nigeria.
11.12. 2025: 518 people, including 29 women, 14 underage girls, 11 underage boys and 464 men, deported in an official convoy.
Among them were 457 nationals of Niger, 39 of Nigeria, 21 of Mali and one person from Guinea Conakry.
11.12. 2025: 275 people deported in an unofficial convoy and dropped off at Point Zero.
Among them were 68 nationals from Mali, 64 from Guinea Conakry, 7 from Côte d'Ivoire, 53 from Nigeria, 5 from Cameroon, 8 from Burkina Faso, 44 from Niger, 14 from Sudan, 8 from Senegal, two from Gambia, one person from Sierra Leone and one from Togo.
18.12. 2025: 308 people, including 16 women, 2 underage girls, and 290 men, were deported in an unofficial convoy and dropped off at Point Zero.
Among them were 145 nationals from Mali, 43 from Guinea Conakry, 22 from Côte d'Ivoire, 27 from Nigeria, 11 from Cameroon, 4 from Sierra Leone, 3 from Burkina Faso, 11 from Niger, 4 from Benin, 20 from Sudan, 12 from Chad, 3 from Senegal, one person from Togo, one from Gambia and one from Yemen.
19.12. 2025: 593 people, including 25 women, 21 underage girls, 30 underage boys and 517 men, were deported in an official convoy.
Among them were 546 nationals of Niger, 17 of Nigeria, 13 of Mali, 9 of Guinea Conakry, 3 of Benin, 3 of Gambia and 2 of Togo.
