DR Congo Agrees to Receive Migrants Deported from the US
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has consented to accept migrants deported from the United States who are not Congolese nationals, under a new agreement effective from this month, according to government officials.
The Ministry of Communication announced that a temporary reception system has been established, with designated facilities in the capital city, Kinshasa, prepared to accommodate the arrivals.
"Logistical and technical support" will be provided by the US, the statement on Sunday said, adding that the Congolese government would bear no financial cost for the scheme.
The government did not specify the number of deportees it would accept. The US has previously deported migrants to several other African countries as part of its intensified immigration enforcement efforts.
Concerns have been raised regarding the potential return of migrants to their countries of origin, where some face risks of persecution. However, Congolese officials clarified that no such transfers are planned under this arrangement.
The decision to receive what are known as third-country migrants—those who originate from neither the sending nor receiving country—reflects DR Congo's commitment to human dignity, international solidarity, and the protection of migrants' rights, the statement read.
The Congolese authorities emphasized that the scheme does not constitute a "permanent relocation mechanism or an outsourcing of migration policies."
US Position and Broader Context
The US State Department declined to comment on "diplomatic communications with other governments" but reaffirmed its "unwavering" commitment to ending illegal and mass immigration and strengthening border security.
Since President Donald Trump's administration took office in January, dozens of individuals have been deported to third countries as part of a stringent immigration policy. This approach has drawn criticism from human rights advocates, some of whom question its legality.
DR Congo joins other African nations, including Eswatini, Ghana, and South Sudan, in accepting deportees from the US. Last week, eight individuals from various African countries were deported to Uganda.
Financial and Diplomatic Aspects
A minority report from the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations indicates that the Trump administration has "likely" spent over $40 million (£30 million) on third-country deportations up to January 2026, though the total expenditure remains "unknown." The US has directly provided more than $32 million to five countries—Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, El Salvador, Eswatini, and Palau.
Additionally, the US is negotiating a minerals agreement with DR Congo to access the country's extensive reserves of critical metals, including cobalt, tantalum, lithium, and copper.
Under the Trump administration, the US has also facilitated a peace agreement between DR Congo and Rwanda, although challenges remain in its implementation.
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