First U.S. Third-Country Deportees Arrive in Congo Under New Bilateral Deal

Mintesinot Nigussie

A first group of migrants deported from the United States under a recently agreed arrangement with the Democratic Republic of Congo arrived in Kinshasa early on Friday. The transfer marks the initial implementation of a deal announced on April 5 that allows Washington to send third-country nationals to Congo, although the total number of individuals expected to be relocated under the agreement remains unclear.

Flight tracking data shows the aircraft departed from Alexandria, Louisiana, and stopped in Dakar and Accra before landing in Kinshasa at around 1am local time. There were conflicting accounts of how many people arrived. A Colombian migrant said the group included 16 individuals, comprising nine men and seven women from Colombia, Peru and Ecuador. An airport source placed the figure at 15.

According to the Colombian migrant, those arriving were granted a seven-day visa permitting movement within the country, with the option of extending their stay for up to three months. They were also informed they could apply for asylum in Congo, although they were warned about security conditions.

Legal representatives said last-minute rulings in U.S. courts may have affected the final number of deportees. The arrangement comes as Congo faces ongoing displacement and security challenges, alongside a limited asylum system, raising questions about its capacity to host deported migrants.

The agreement coincides with broader U.S. engagement in the country, including support for a peace initiative between Congo and Rwanda aimed at addressing conflict involving M23 rebels in the eastern region. It also follows a separate strategic partnership granting the United States preferential access to Congo’s mineral resources.

Overall, the arrival of the first U.S. third-country deportees in Congo marks the initial implementation of the new bilateral deal and highlights the intersection of migration policy with broader geopolitical and economic cooperation in the region.