Marrakech – The Moroccan-Algerian border witnessed yesterday the opening of the Zouj Beghal border crossing in Oujda and Colonel Lotfi in Maghnia.
This operation facilitated the handover of 16 young Moroccans who were detained after completing their sentences in Algerian prisons, particularly in the Tlemcen region.
The handover process was conducted based on passports and transit passes.
The border crossing was closed following terrorist attacks in Marrakech and has remained closed since 1994 when Rabat imposed visa requirements on Algerian citizens.
In response, Algeria closed the land borders between the two countries. However, the border occasionally opens from time to time for specific purposes.
In a statement shared with Morocco World News (MWN), the Moroccan Association for Assistance to Migrants in Difficult Situations in Oujda (AMSV) said it closely monitored this operation by maintaining contact with the released individuals after they crossed the border.
The association communicated with several young migrants hailing from various cities such as Figuig, Tangier, Casablanca, Taza, Fez, Tetouan, Midelt, Taounate, Khouribga, Kenitra, and Demnate. Some of these individuals were received in the city center and their places of residence in Oujda.
It is worth noting that the association is closely following many cases in this regard.
Hundreds of young people remain in administrative detention awaiting deportation, a process that faces several technical and procedural difficulties which the association is attempting to resolve.
Moreover, many individuals are under pretrial detention and trials, with more than 330 cases pending.
Additionally, six bodies await release and handover to their families, similar to the bodies previously facilitated by the association through legal and administrative measures.
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The association had previously mentioned in a statement that it may resort to international measures on this issue after having addressed Algerian authorities, including the President of the Algerian Republic, as well as several ministries.
In addition, the association also reached out to the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and African Cooperation, the National Council for Human Rights, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and various other entities.
But the case continues to face complications, especially after Algeria severed diplomatic ties with Morocco in August 2021.
The association’s recent participation in the international workshop in Cape Town provided an opportunity to raise the issue of detainees, prisoners, missing persons, and deceased would-be migrants on migration routes, and to call for advocacy on this matter.
The association hopes that this step marks the beginning of a genuine breakthrough and the return of detained and arrested migration candidates in Algeria to their families and loved ones.
With this group of 16 young men, the Algerian authorities have handed over a total of 69 Moroccans to their Moroccan counterparts from January 17 to August 1.
