Congo Considers Taking in US Deportees

The Democratic Republic of Congo is currently in early-stage talks with the US government about accepting migrants who have been deported from America. These migrants would first be sent by US authorities to a third country—possibly Congo—before facing removal from Africa. Two local officials in Kinshasa confirmed these discussions, which align with a broader trend of Washington sending deportees to African nations like Ghana, Cameroon, and Eswatini.While these agreements are rarely publicized, they allow the US to bypass delays in its own deportation system. The transfers also come at a time when the US is pushing for peace between Congo and Rwanda and securing access to Congo’s valuable minerals. Yet legal experts warn these deals often lack transparency and may violate international protections. Some deportees have been sent back to danger despite US court rulings blocking their removal. The exact terms of the proposed deal with Congo remain unclear. No one knows when flights might begin, how many migrants could be involved, or where they would come from. A UN migration official suggested Venezuelans might be among them. For now, neither Congo nor the US has commented publicly on what, if anything, Congo would gain from this arrangement.