The Democratic Republic of the Congo has announced that it will accept third-country nationals deported from the United States under a new agreement with the administration of Donald Trump.
In a statement released on Sunday, the government in Kinshasa said it would begin receiving deportees starting in April. However, officials did not disclose how many individuals the country has agreed to take in.
According to the statement, the United States will fully cover the costs associated with the arrangement, meaning there will be no financial burden on the Congolese government. Authorities have already prepared facilities near Kinshasa to accommodate the incoming deportees.
The move comes as part of a broader U.S. policy that has seen third-country deportees sent to several African nations, including Ghana, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Eswatini. The practice has drawn criticism from legal experts and human rights groups, who have raised concerns over its legality and humanitarian implications.
The agreement also aligns with ongoing diplomatic efforts by the Trump administration to support a peace deal between Congo and Rwanda, as well as to secure U.S. access to the region’s critical mineral resources.
The development highlights deepening cooperation between Washington and Kinshasa, even as the policy continues to face international scrutiny.