by Kofi Oppong Kyekyeku, Face2FaceAfrica.com
Congo has confirmed it will begin receiving deported migrants from the United States under a new arrangement tied to the Trump administration’s third-country relocation policy, becoming the latest African state to participate in the initiative.
Officials say the first group is expected to arrive before the end of the month, though authorities have not disclosed how many individuals will be transferred or the exact timeline. The announcement came via a statement from the country’s Ministry of Communications on Sunday.
Authorities in Congo tagged the agreement as a short-term measure, stressing that it aligns with the country’s “commitment to human dignity and international solidarity.” They also noted that the logistical burden will not fall on Congo, with the United States expected to finance the operation.
The deal places Congo among a growing list of African nations that have entered into similar arrangements with the United States. At least seven countries on the continent have agreed to accept migrants who are not their nationals, many of them also affected by broader U.S. policy shifts on trade, aid and migration.
A recent report by Democratic staff on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee indicated that the U.S. government has already spent more than $40 million to relocate roughly 300 migrants to third countries.
The policy has drawn scrutiny from legal advocates and human rights groups, who question both the transparency of these agreements and the conditions migrants may face upon arrival. Critics have pointed to the involvement of countries with records of political repression and human rights concerns, including Eswatini, South Sudan and Equatorial Guinea.
One of the most contentious aspects is that some of the individuals being relocated have already been granted protection by U.S. immigration judges, barring their return to their countries of origin due to credible threats to their safety.
In response to those concerns, Congolese officials emphasized that transfers will not be automatic. “Each situation will be subject to individual review in accordance with the laws of the Republic and national security requirements,” the government said.