A boat missing on the way to the Balearic Islands was intercepted by Algeria and the 26 occupants were deported to Niger
Alarm Phone had warned of the disappearance of the boat, which would have spent at least six days adrift after leaving Tipasa
PalmaA raft that had been reported missing while sailing towards the Balearic Islands was reportedly intercepted by Algerian authorities and its 26 occupants deported to Niger, according to an announcement this Friday by the organization Alarm Phone.
The entity, which documents and alerts about emergency situations affecting migrants at sea, explained through its X account that the vessel was located after having spent at least six days adrift. According to the information provided by relatives to Alarm Phone, the 26 migrants were intercepted by Algerian authorities and, after being transferred to dry land, were reportedly deported to Niger.
It had been reported missing
The boat is said to have departed from Tipasa (Algeria), one of the usual departure points of the so-called Algerian migratory route, with 26 people on board. After losing track of it, the migrants' families contacted Alarm Phone, which last Sunday alerted them to the disappearance of the raft and passed the information on to the authorities.
A few days later, the organization expressed its concern about the possibility that the boat had been intercepted and its occupants detained by the Algerian authorities. At that time, however, the families did not yet have official information about their whereabouts. Finally, as Alarm Phone communicated this Friday, the families have confirmed that the migrants were intercepted and subsequently deported to Niger.
Alarm Phone denounces deportations
The organization has condemned the actions of the Algerian authorities and has called for respect for the freedom of movement of migrants. Alarm Phone has been following the case since relatives reported the disappearance of the boat, in an episode that highlights the risks associated with the migratory route between Algeria and the Balearic Islands. The information about the interception and deportation of the 26 occupants comes from communications from relatives with Alarm Phone, as reported by the organization.