US sends deportees from other countries to Congo in new deal
The Democratic Republic of Congo is set to receive more than 30 people deported from the United States this week, in a new arrangement that is drawing attention across Africa and beyond.
The group is unusual because none of the deportees are Congolese citizens. Instead, they are people from other countries, including several from Latin America such as Colombia, Peru, Chile and Guatemala. Reports say the total number could be between 37 and 45.
The deportees are expected to arrive in Kinshasa and will be kept in a hotel near the main airport for about 10 to 15 days. During this period, they will be allowed to move around, while security will be handled by local police and private guards. They will also receive food and basic support.
The United Nations migration agency is expected to help provide humanitarian support after arrival, although it says it is not part of the deportation process itself.
This move is part of growing cooperation between the United States and Congo. It comes shortly after both countries agreed on a broader partnership that also involves access to Congo’s mineral resources and efforts to support peace in the eastern part of the country.
The plan has raised questions among rights groups and some political voices in Congo, especially about why migrants from other countries are being sent there and what happens after their short stay in the hotel.
Authorities have not clearly explained what will happen after the temporary accommodation period ends, and details of long term arrangements remain unclear.
For now, Congo is set to become a new stop in a wider US effort to send deportees to third countries, a practice already seen in a few other African nations.
