The 1975 Moroccan Expulsion from Algeria: A Half-Century of Injustice
Nearly fifty years ago, a tragic and largely unacknowledged event scarred the relationship between Morocco and Algeria. In the winter of 1975, as the Muslim world celebrated Eid al-Adha, the Algerian government forcibly expelled an estimated 45,000 Moroccan families—representing hundreds of thousands of individuals—from their homes. This mass expulsion, a blatant violation of international law and human decency, remains a raw wound for those affected and a stain on Algeria’s human rights record.
The International Collective in Support of Moroccan Families Expelled from Algeria continues to seek justice for these victims. Their December 7, 2024, statement powerfully reiterates the Algerian government’s full responsibility for this humanitarian crisis. The expulsion wasn’t an isolated incident but rather a calculated act within a larger pattern of hostility and political maneuvering. This act of forced displacement echoes other instances of mass expulsion throughout history, highlighting the devastating impact such actions have on
