ALGIERS, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Algeria has strongly rejected the UN and NGO's accusations of failing to meet its international obligations and ill-treating sub-Saharan migrants, said the foreign ministry Thursday.
"Algeria has been the subject, for several weeks, of a malicious campaign orchestrated by some non-governmental organizations which wrongly accuse it of failing to meet its international obligations in terms of solidarity, care and hospitality for sub-Saharan migrants," APS news agency quoted the ministry in a statement as saying.
Algeria strongly rejects the accusations that are obviously aiming at undermining its image and its relations with its southern neighbors, while the country shares strong relationships based on fraternity, mutual respect, solidarity and community of common destiny, it said.
Algeria has taken legal measures in accordance with its international obligations, to ensure the safety and well-being of both Algerian citizens and foreign nationals on the Algerian territory, it said.
The foreign ministry said that "measures of deportation of a number of illegal migrants to the border have thus been decided and implemented with due respect for the dignity and human rights of those concerned and after close consultation with the countries of their origin."
The North African nation was severely criticized by the UN and some NGOs after the authorities sent home illegal migrants originated from sub-Saharan nations.
A couple of days ago, Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office Ravina Shamdasani called on Algeria "to stop massive expulsions of migrants, especially from sub-Saharan Africa, warning that this expulsion campaign would lead to a rise in racism and xenophobia against sub-Saharan Africans."
