Dying at Sea or Surviving in Algeria

On December 31, 2024, off the coast of Mostaganem, a mother and her four children tragically lost their lives in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. This tragedy, which came just days after another incident in Boumerdès where 28 people, including a pregnant woman, died, highlights the painful choice many Algerians face: risking death at sea or surviving in an Algeria where hope seems to have vanished.
According to data published by the NGO Caminando Fronteras, 2024 was marked by alarming figures: 517 people died on the maritime route linking Algeria to Spain, a 19% increase compared to 2023. Even more tragic, 26 boats disappeared entirely, leaving families in endless waiting and grief.
This grim reality sharply contrasts with the speech given on December 29, 2024, by President Tebboune before Parliament. The president painted a picture of a prosperous Algeria, claiming that “all economic and financial indicators are positive.” Yet, this narrative seems disconnected from reality, ignoring the thousands of citizens willing to risk everything to leave the country, even at the cost of their lives.
Today, the Algerian maritime route has become the deadliest in the Western Mediterranean, reflecting the worsening of a deep social crisis that the authorities refuse to acknowledge. Notably, this route, traditionally used by Algerians, now sees 40% of migrants from other nationalities, turning Algeria into a transit country against its will.
The complete absence of this phenomenon in official speeches and state-controlled media goes beyond mere denial. It reveals a cynical exploitation of this human tragedy by the Algerian government, which appears to use illegal migration as a diplomatic pressure tool against Spain and France. This strategy is particularly immoral, knowing that most Algerian migrants aim to reach France after entering Spain, taking advantage of the 1968 agreements that facilitate their regularization.
Meanwhile, President Tebboune promises a 53% increase in purchasing power and “megaprojects” meant to transform the country. Yet, the daily reality drives entire families to risk their lives at sea. The lack of concrete measures to curb this crisis reflects either a failure to understand its scale or a cynical political calculation to let go of a youth seen as a potential destabilizing force.
The increasing dispersion of departure points along Algeria’s coastline and the expansion of destinations to the Balearic Islands and Valencia’s coast, despite heightened risks, reflect growing despair. According to Caminando Fronteras, 91.42% of victims’ bodies vanish at sea, leaving their families in an unending state of grief.
In this context, the gap between the promises of a government living in a “parallel world” – as aptly described by King Mohammed VI – and the suffering of the population is glaring. By ignoring this human crisis in his December 29 speech, President Tebboune demonstrates the disconnect between a regime trapped in its illusions and a population willing to risk everything to escape a life without a future.
The transformation of this migration route, with the emergence of new profiles, including entire families and unaccompanied minors, reflects the worsening of a social crisis that the government continues to deny. The 2024 figures are not just statistics; they tell the story of a profound political failure – a system incapable of offering its youth a future.
The real question is no longer how long this denial can last but how many lives it will continue to cost. While the president touts imaginary economic successes, the Mediterranean continues to turn into a graveyard for those who no longer believe in the promises of a government disconnected from its people.