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 stated that a temporary reception system has been set up, while facilities to accommodate arrivals have been selected in the capital, Kinshasa.
Logistical and technical support will be provided by the US, according to the statement released on Sunday, adding that the Congolese government will bear no financial cost for the scheme.
The government did not disclose how many deportees they would accept, although the US has already sent deportees to several other African countries as part of Washington's crackdown on immigration.
There are concerns that migrants could be returned to their home countries, where some fear persecution. Congolese officials assured that their transfers are not being planned.
The decision to receive what are known as third-country migrants – individuals coming from neither the sending nor receiving nation – aligns with DR Congo's commitment to human dignity, international solidarity, and to protect the rights of migrants. The Congolese authorities emphasized that the scheme does not represent a permanent relocation mechanism or an outsourcing of migration policies.
The US State Department remarked that while it would not comment on diplomatic communications with other governments, the government remains unwavering in its commitment to ending illegal and mass immigration while bolstering America's border security.
President Donald Trump's administration has deported dozens of individuals to third countries, including DR Congo, since taking office. The policy has faced condemnation from human rights advocates, some questioning its legality.
DR Congo joins other African nations, including Eswatini, Ghana, and South Sudan, in receiving deportees from the US. In recent actions, the US has also negotiated a minerals deal with DR Congo to access its rich resources, highlighting the multifaceted nature of their diplomatic engagement.
The Ministry of Communication stated that a temporary reception system has been set up, while facilities to accommodate arrivals have been selected in the capital, Kinshasa.
Logistical and technical support will be provided by the US, according to the statement released on Sunday, adding that the Congolese government will bear no financial cost for the scheme.
The government did not disclose how many deportees they would accept, although the US has already sent deportees to several other African countries as part of Washington's crackdown on immigration.
There are concerns that migrants could be returned to their home countries, where some fear persecution. Congolese officials assured that their transfers are not being planned.
The decision to receive what are known as third-country migrants – individuals coming from neither the sending nor receiving nation – aligns with DR Congo's commitment to human dignity, international solidarity, and to protect the rights of migrants. The Congolese authorities emphasized that the scheme does not represent a permanent relocation mechanism or an outsourcing of migration policies.
The US State Department remarked that while it would not comment on diplomatic communications with other governments, the government remains unwavering in its commitment to ending illegal and mass immigration while bolstering America's border security.
President Donald Trump's administration has deported dozens of individuals to third countries, including DR Congo, since taking office. The policy has faced condemnation from human rights advocates, some questioning its legality.
DR Congo joins other African nations, including Eswatini, Ghana, and South Sudan, in receiving deportees from the US. In recent actions, the US has also negotiated a minerals deal with DR Congo to access its rich resources, highlighting the multifaceted nature of their diplomatic engagement.
