Algeria, Morocco briefly open closed border to repatriate 15 Moroccan citizens

Algeria and Morocco on Tuesday exceptionally opened their land borders, closed since 1994, to repatriate 15 Moroccan citizens who had emigrated to Algerian territory after serving sentences ranging from six months to two years for irregular migration, said Hassan Amari, president of the Moroccan Association for the Assistance of Migrants in Vulnerable Situations (AMAMS).

Amari told Spanish news agency EFE that the Zouj Beghal crossing point was opened for the repatriation of these Moroccans. Amari noted that the association accompanied the families through the various administrative procedures.

Amari noted that these were young Moroccan citizens who had been sentenced under Algerian immigration law after arriving in Algerian territory irregularly. He added that the process of repatriating them was long due to «technical issues» in the last four months.

According to Amari, 89 Moroccans, four of whom are minors, are still in Algerian territory awaiting deportation after serving sentences for irregular migration. Some of them have been waiting in reception centers or administrative detention for eight months.