The Democratic Republic of Congo is reportedly negotiating with the Trump administration to accept deportees from other countries, marking the latest in a series of such agreements in Africa.
The talks, confirmed by government sources in Kinshasa and UN officials, highlight Washington’s increasing reliance on third-country deportations to expedite removals of migrants who entered or remain in the US without authorization.
These arrangements are often negotiated quietly, with limited public detail on their scope or terms.
The US has previously sent third-country deportees to African countries like Ghana, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Eswatini, drawing criticism from legal experts and rights groups over the legal basis for the transfers and treatment of deportees.
The talks with DR Congo coincide with efforts to implement a peace deal between Congo and Rwanda and an agreement ensuring US access to Congolese critical minerals.
However, key details remain unresolved, including when the first deportation flights might take place, the number of migrants involved, and their nationalities.
