First deportees from America arrive in Congo under new agreement

The first group of migrants deported from the United States has arrived in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to informed sources, migrants, and lawyers connected to the incident, in a move that comes as part of a recent bilateral agreement between the two countries.

Deportation of migrants from America to Congo

According to flight tracking data, the plane carrying the deportees landed, with migrants from Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador on board. A Colombian migrant, speaking to Reuters, confirmed that 16 people were deported, including nine men and seven women, while an airport source indicated the number was only 15.

Neither the Congolese Interior Ministry nor the presidential spokesperson issued any immediate comment on the incident, despite earlier reports indicating that more than 30 migrants were expected to arrive during the same week. Alma David, a US-based lawyer, suggested that the lower number of arrivals might be due to last-minute judicial interventions, stating that she was aware of at least three cases in which federal judges halted deportations.

One migrant described the journey as very long, noting that it took between 26 and 27 hours, with stops in Senegal and Ghana, after departing from Louisiana. He added that the treatment during the journey was good, with sufficient food provided.

This operation marks the first time migrants have been transferred from third countries to the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country plagued by fragile security, widespread displacement, and a weak asylum system. According to the migrant himself, the group was granted seven-day visas, extendable up to three months, with the possibility of applying for asylum, despite warnings from authorities about the security risks in the country.

This agreement comes in the context of broader moves by the Donald Trump administration, which seeks to strengthen its influence in the region, whether through supporting a peace agreement between Congo and Rwanda to contain the M23 rebellion, or through strategic agreements that allow Washington access to vital minerals in Congo, reflecting the overlap of political and economic dimensions in this matter.