At least 35 migrants have died attempting to cross the Niger desert to Libya or Algeria on their way to Europe between January and August 2025, according to Alarme Phone Sahara, a Niger-based NGO.
The migrants, part of tens of thousands hoping to reach North Africa’s coast for smuggling boats to Europe, face perilous conditions, including abandonment by smugglers and vehicle breakdowns en route.
“Based on our information, 35 to 40 migrants have died between January and August while crossing the desert,” Aziz Chehou of the Niger NGO Alarme Phone Sahara told AFP.
Among the tens of thousands of people hoping to reach the North Africa coast for smuggling boats to Europe, many die after being abandoned by smugglers or after their vehicles break down en route.
“After their vehicles break down, passengers who are already hungry and dehydrated try to keep going on foot over long distances in search of water they think is nearby,” Chehou said.
Migrants often succumb to dehydration and hunger, with some attempting to walk long distances in search of water after their vehicles break down.
Thousands were left stranded after being turned back by border police in Libya or Algeria, with many forced to rely on local populations for support.
Algeria expelled over 31,000 migrants into Niger last year, with around 16,000 people expelled between January and June this year, according to Alarme Phone Sahara and Niger’s authorities.
Algeria has expelled thousands of migrants to Niger since April 2025, with over 16,000 irregular African migrants forced back, sparking concerns over human rights and security.
Organisations like the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Doctors Without Borders (MSF) are providing aid, including accommodation, medical assistance, food, and water to those expelled.
