US in talks with DR Congo over third-country deportations

The United States is in talks with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) over the potential use of Congolese territory to process migrants who entered or remain in the US without authorization, according to three UN sources and two diplomats briefed by US officials.

The so-called “third-country deportations” are seen as a tool for Washington to accelerate migrant removals. 

While similar arrangements have been quietly negotiated with countries across Africa, including Ghana, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, the talks with DR Congo are taking place against a backdrop of broader diplomatic and economic negotiations.

The talks coincide with US efforts to support the implementation of a peace agreement between DR Congo and Rwanda, which also involve securing access to Congolese critical minerals.

Observers note that details of the potential deportation plan remain limited. It is unclear whether any formal agreement will be reached, how many people could be affected, or what nationalities might be involved.

Human rights advocates have raised concerns about third-country deportations in general, warning that some migrants have been forcibly returned despite having court-ordered protections in the US to prevent such outcomes.

A source at the UN’s International Organization for Migration indicated that the plan could include migrants from South America, potentially Venezuelans. Both the US State Department and the Congolese presidency declined to comment on the discussions.

The talks highlight the growing intersection of migration policy, international diplomacy, and economic interests, with DR Congo emerging as a key, though still undefined, partner in Washington’s broader deportation strategy.