Algeria releases six Moroccan detainees, hundreds more await

Algerian authorities released six Moroccan youths on Wednesday, as reported by the Association for Assistance to Migrants in Precarious Situations (AMSP).  

The youths, who had completed their sentences in Algerian prisons, were transferred from the Akid Lotfi border crossing in Algeria to the Zouj Bghal border crossing in Morocco. 

The process was conducted smoothly and in accordance with legal procedures, with the youths presenting valid passports.

This small step offers a temporary reprieve for the families directly involved, but it highlights the larger crisis faced by hundreds of Moroccans who remain detained in Algeria. 

AMSP representatives were present at both border crossings to provide support to the released youths, who hail from various Moroccan cities, including Oujda, Casablanca, Kasba Tadla, Taza, and Fez.

The association said that it remains committed to assisting hundreds of other Moroccan youths who remain administratively detained in Algeria awaiting repatriation. 

The NGO is actively working to address the technical and procedural hurdles that are impeding the release and repatriation process.

AMSP further added that it’s dedicated to facilitating the repatriation of the remains of deceased Moroccan citizens. They have reached out to international organizations to seek their support in resolving this issue.

Despite the challenges posed by the severed diplomatic ties between Morocco and Algeria, AMSP said that it has hope that this repatriation marks a positive step towards the release of all detained and imprisoned Moroccan citizens and their eventual return to their families.

The NGO estimates the number to be over 330, with many languishing in pre-trial detention or awaiting repatriation after completing their sentences. 

The closed border, a consequence of the diplomatic freeze between the two nations, has inflicted immense hardship on families on both sides.  

The lack of official communication channels, according to the association, makes it extremely difficult to obtain information and resolve cases, leaving families desperate for answers about missing loved ones.