Algeria temporarily opened its borders with Morocco on two occasions to repatriate 74 Moroccan migrants who had been detained for attempting to cross into Europe illegally. The move, despite ongoing diplomatic tensions, reflects a limited but continued cooperation between the two North African nations on migration issues.
The Moroccan Association for Assisting Migrants in Difficult Situations announced the repatriations, which took place on February 27 and March 6. A total of 42 and 32 individuals, respectively, were handed over at the “Zouj Beghal” crossing on the Moroccan side and “Colonel Lotfi” on the Algerian side.
Many of the migrants had spent months in Algerian detention centers or prisons, while others had completed their sentences but remained held due to unpaid fines.
The association stated that the repatriated individuals came from 20 different Moroccan provinces. It also highlighted a broader issue, reporting that more than 520 Moroccan migrants are currently detained in various locations, including Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya.
It called on Algerian authorities to return the bodies of six deceased Moroccan migrants, including two young women, whose families await their remains for burial.
Algerian government sources confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the repatriations were coordinated with Moroccan consulates in Algiers, Oran, and Tlemcen.
Meanwhile, the Moroccan association urged both governments to strengthen cooperation in expediting deportation procedures and combating human trafficking networks that exploit vulnerable migrants.
The association condemned the networks, many of which operate through social media, luring young Moroccans into dangerous migration attempts. It announced plans to take legal action, in collaboration with families, to expose the traffickers and protect migrants.
The decision to temporarily open the border for repatriations is significant, given the long-standing diplomatic rift between Algeria and Morocco. Relations have been severed since August 2021, when Algeria accused Morocco of hostile actions. The border itself has been closed since 1994 following a terrorist attack in Marrakesh, for which Rabat blamed Algerian intelligence. Tensions further escalated in 2021 when Algeria halted gas exports to Morocco.
At the heart of the dispute remains the Western Sahara issue, with Algeria backing the Polisario Front’s independence movement while Morocco says the region is an integral part of its territory.
