Algeria exerts devious migratory pressure in revenge for Morocco-Spain deal
The agreement between Spain and Morocco has begun to bear fruit, and the results have been seen with the slowing down of illegal immigration attempts and the resumption of dialogue on migration between the two countries. But the number of migrants arriving in Spain increased in April, in particular because of Algeria.
While Morocco and Spain sealed a “historic” multi-faceted agreement at the beginning of April which should bring the two neighboring countries to a relationship worthy of the “21st century”, the results of the resumption of diplomatic relations and the end of the crisis have already made themselves felt.
This week, Madrid and Rabat reactivated the permanent group on migration which had not met for 2 years, due to the crisis linked to the coronavirus pandemic and the diplomatic crisis over the past 10 months.
The arrival of irregular immigrants has slowed in the last 45 days in Spain, according to the bi-monthly report published by the Spanish Ministry of the Interior. Over the first 4 months of 2022, the figures speak for themselves: 10,180 people entered Spain illegally compared to 7,937 who did so during the same period of the previous year, an increase of 28.3%.
And it is the Canary Islands that support the greatest migratory flow since they receive more than half of the arrivals. The Ministry of the Interior figures at 6,624 immigrants who entered until April 30 aboard 145 small boats, or 50% more than in the same period of 2021.
And this is explained by an increase in arrivals from countries such as Senegal and Mauritania, as reported by the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in its latest report.
“The maritime journey between West African coastal states, such as Senegal and Mauritania, and the Canary Islands is long and perilous and can take up to ten days,” spokesperson Shabia Mantoo said. UNHCR, presenting the 2021 report on migration and disappearances at sea.
She added that 1,153 people died or went missing on the sea route from northwest Africa to the Canary Islands, noting that the central Mediterranean migration route is the deadliest in the world, with more than 17,000 deaths and disappearances recorded since 2014 by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
And with the coronavirus pandemic, the number of departures has increased, in particular by 61% from Tunisia in 2021 compared to 2020, and by 150% from Libya, the UNHCR said.
Algeria takes revenge for Morocco-Spain deal
And an increase in illegal immigration is expected in the coming months with the improvement in climatic conditions from June. According to La Razon, “despite the fact that a downward trend was observed in the first quarter of the year, the month of April broke the pattern” in Spain, with a marked increase in illegal migrants.
Indeed, only in the first fortnight of April, corresponding to the signing of the Morocco-Spain partnership (strongly denounced by Algeria which is now threatening Madrid to break its gas supply contract, editor’s note), this 753 people arrived on board 22 boats, compared to 375 in March, twice the number.
And Spanish police sources quoted by the news site The Objectif, claimed that Algeria began sending Afghan, Bengali and Syrian migrants from its coasts to Spain around the same time the agreement was concluded. between Morocco and Spain following the visit of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
Since April, the number of migrants from these three countries passing through the Algerian coast and heading towards Almeria and Murcia has reached 1,000 people. This figure is significant when compared with the total number of Algerians who immigrated illegally to Spain in 2021. They are 4,000 in all, the same sources indicated.
“The police place the beginning of these migratory flows between the end of March and the beginning of April, shortly after the government of Pedro Sanchez announced its support for the Moroccan autonomy plan for the Sahara”, notes The Objectif.
And to add that “Algeria reacted forcefully, recalling its ambassador to Spain for consultations with immediate effect” following the agreement between Rabat and Madrid,
There is no doubt that Algeria is trying to operate a new manipulation by sending migrants of different nationalities to evade the origin and paternity of these sudden migratory movements, which, subsequently, will not be attributed to Algiers in the reports. UN organizations such as the IOM or the UNHCR.
The media makes this observation by estimating that there is today a “silent migratory pressure exerted by Algeria”, and says to expect that this operation will become “a usual trend in the months to come”.
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