In brief
Effective immediately, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has agreed to accept non-Congolese migrants deported from the United States. The country will establish a reception system in Kinshasa and will receive logistical support from the US. This step aligns with DRC's commitment to human rights and international solidarity, stating that it will not serve as a permanent relocation method or outsourcing of migration policies.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has agreed to accept migrants deported from the US who are not themselves Congolese under a deal effective from this month, officials said.
The Ministry of Communication announced that a temporary reception system has been established, while facilities to accommodate arrivals have been chosen in the capital, Kinshasa.
The statement said that the US would provide logistical and technical support for the scheme, adding that the Congolese government would incur no financial costs.
While the number of deportees to be accepted has not been disclosed, the US has already sent deportees to various African nations as part of its immigration crackdown.
Officials have addressed concerns about the potential for deportees being returned to countries where they may face persecution, confirming that such transfers are not being planned.
The DRC's decision to accept what are referred to as third-country migrants reflects the government’s commitment to human dignity and the rights of migrants.
They also clarified that the initiative is not a permanent relocation mechanism or an outsourcing of migration policies.
The BBC has reached out to the US State Department and the Department of Homeland Security for comments but has yet to receive a response.
Since President Donald Trump's administration took office, numerous individuals have been deported to third countries as part of a hardline immigration stance, a policy that has drawn condemnation from human rights advocates.
The DRC joins other African nations including Eswatini, Ghana, and South Sudan in this arrangement.
In related news, last week eight individuals from various African countries were deported to Uganda, exemplifying the ongoing efforts by the US to transfer deportation responsibilities.
A report from the US Senate's Foreign Relations Committee indicated that the Trump administration has likely expended over $40 million on such deportations, with more than $32 million provided directly to several partnering nations.
The US is also currently negotiating a deal with the DRC for minerals, aiming to secure access to the country’s rich reserves of essential metals like cobalt and lithium.
Furthermore, the US has facilitated a peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda, although its implementation is still facing challenges.
