DRC to Host US-Deported Migrants as Part of Deal Involving Minerals and Cooperation

The Democratic Republic of Congo has agreed to receive third-country nationals deported from the United States under a new bilateral arrangement, while discussions continue over broader cooperation including access to the country’s mineral resources.

Speaking to AFP on Tuesday, the government did not specify the number of deportees to be accepted or the terms offered by the United States in exchange for the agreement.

The DRC joins other African countries such as Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda and South Sudan that have entered similar deportation partnerships with Washington in recent months, many of which reportedly include US logistical or financial support.

According to an announcement by the Congolese government on Sunday, it will “temporarily take in third country nationals” from the United States beginning this month.

Authorities said deportees would be received in Kinshasa, despite the city’s limited infrastructure relative to its population of approximately 17 million people. The government noted that “reception facilities” have been prepared for arrivals.

It further stated that the programme would not burden public finances, as “the logistical and technical aspects of the operation will be handled by the US government.”

The agreement comes alongside ongoing cooperation between Kinshasa and Washington, including a $1.2-billion health partnership signed in February that enables US access to epidemic data, and a December deal granting access to strategic minerals such as copper, cobalt, coltan and lithium.

However, rights organisations have criticised US deportation policies. Human Rights Watch described such arrangements as “opaque deals” that “violated international human rights law,” warning that they expose deportees to risks including arbitrary detention and ill-treatment.

The group also cautioned about “refoulement,” the forced return of individuals to countries where they may face persecution.

UN human rights experts have similarly raised concerns about expedited removal procedures that could bypass judicial oversight.

In parallel, US-backed negotiations between the DRC and Rwanda aimed at easing tensions in eastern Congo have yet to resolve long-standing conflict in the region.

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