Democratic Republic of Congo has agreed to accommodate migrants expelled from the United States who are not Congolese nationals, as part of an agreement that came into effect this month, officials said.
The Ministry of Communication stated that a temporary reception system had been put in place, with structures designated to house the arrivals selected in the capital, Kinshasa.
A “logistical and technical support” will be provided by the United States, as stated in a press release published on Sunday, specifying that the Congolese government will have no financial cost to bear under this arrangement.
The government did not specify how many expelled individuals it would accept. The United States has already sent expelled individuals to several other African countries as part of Washington’s immigration crackdown.
There were fears that migrants could be sent back to their home countries where some may fear persecution – Congolese authorities stated that no transfers of this nature were planned.
The decision to accommodate what are known as third-country migrants – those who are neither from the home country nor the host country – aligns with the Democratic Republic of Congo’s commitment to human dignity, international solidarity, and protection of migrant rights, the press release indicated.
Congolese authorities also clarified that this arrangement was not a “permanent relocation mechanism or an outsourcing of migration policies.”
BBC reached out to the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security in Washington for comments, but has not yet received a response.
Since taking office in January, the administration of President Donald Trump has expelled dozens of individuals to third countries as part of its stringent immigration policy.
Human rights advocates have condemned this policy, with some questioning its legality.
The Democratic Republic of Congo joins other countries on the continent, including Eswatini, Ghana, and South Sudan, in accepting individuals expelled from the United States.
Last week, eight people from different African countries were expelled to Uganda.
According to a minority report by the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Trump administration has “likely” spent over 40 million dollars (30 million pounds) on expulsions to third countries until January 2026, though the total cost is “unknown.”
The United States has “directly” transferred over 32 million dollars to five countries – Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, El Salvador, Eswatini, and Palau.
The United States is also negotiating a mining agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo to access the vast strategic metal reserves of this central African country, such as cobalt, tantalum, lithium, and copper.
Under Trump, the United States has also facilitated the conclusion of a peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, although its implementation remains a challenge.
