DR Congo Agrees to Accept US Deportees from Third Countries
The Democratic Republic of Congo has confirmed an agreement to accept deportees from the United States who are not nationals of the DR Congo. This deal, effective from this month, establishes a temporary reception system in Kinshasa, with logistical and technical support provided by the US government.
A statement from the Ministry of Communication clarified that the Congolese government would incur no financial costs for the scheme. Officials emphasised that this arrangement is not a permanent relocation mechanism and there are no plans to transfer these migrants to their home countries, addressing concerns about potential persecution.
International Context and Concerns
This decision places the DR Congo alongside other African nations, including Eswatini, Ghana, and South Sudan, in receiving third-country deportees as part of Washington's stringent immigration policies under the Trump administration. Human rights organisations have previously voiced criticism regarding the legality and ethics of such deportations.
While the exact number of deportees to be accepted by the DR Congo remains undisclosed, the US has previously deported dozens of individuals to third countries since January 2017. A US Senate committee report estimated that the Trump administration had likely spent over $40 million on third-country deportations up to January 2026, with significant direct funding provided to several nations.
The agreement also coincides with ongoing US negotiations with the DR Congo for access to its substantial reserves of critical minerals, including cobalt and lithium. Furthermore, the US has been involved in facilitating a peace deal between the DR Congo and Rwanda, though its implementation continues to face challenges.
