![Hon. Festus Keyamo SAN arrives MMIA past 11:50 p.m. Feb 23 to lead oversight of Terminal 1 fire. Joined FAAN MD & team actively managing situation. Directed morning inspection Tuesday to guide restoration & confirm safety standards. Reaffirmed focus on passenger safety. Story: [link] #KeyamoMMIA #FireIncident #FAAN](https://fullcliphq.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/mym-150x150.jpg "MMIA Fire: Keyamo Inspects Lagos Airport After Terminal 1 Blaze Disrupts Flights")
The Democratic Republic of Congo has agreed to accept some migrants deported from the United States as part of a new third-country arrangement with the Trump administration, the government in Kinshasa announced on Sunday.
Deportees are expected to begin arriving in the country this month under a temporary programme that will incur no financial cost to Congolese authorities. According to a statement from the Congolese Ministry of Communications, the deal reflects Congo’s commitment to human dignity and international solidarity.
The United States will cover all logistics and associated expenses, with arrivals scheduled for April though specific dates and numbers of individuals involved were not disclosed. This development positions the Democratic Republic of Congo as the latest African nation to participate in the US third-country deportation programme.
The initiative allows Washington to remove migrants to countries other than their own when their home nations decline to accept them or when safety concerns prevent direct return. The government emphasised that there would be no automatic transfer of deportees.
Instead, each case will undergo individual review in line with Congolese laws and national security requirements. Officials described the arrangement as temporary, without providing details on its expected duration or the criteria for acceptance.
The Trump administration has pursued similar agreements with at least seven other African countries, many of which have faced US policies restricting trade, aid and migration. A report by Democratic staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee indicated that the administration had spent at least $40 million to deport roughly 300 migrants to third countries as of early 2026.
Critics, including lawyers and migrant rights activists, have raised concerns about the nature of these deals. Several participating African nations, such as Eswatini, South Sudan and Equatorial Guinea, have been noted for repressive governance and poor human rights records.
A key point of contention involves migrants who hold protection orders from US immigration judges, citing significant safety risks if returned to their countries of origin.
In the case of Congo, the government has stressed that decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis rather than through blanket transfers. This approach is intended to allow authorities to assess individual circumstances against domestic legal standards and security considerations.
The announcement comes amid broader efforts by the Trump administration to accelerate deportations as a central element of its immigration policy. Third-country agreements have emerged as a tool to overcome obstacles when countries of origin refuse repatriation or when legal protections block direct removal.
Human rights organisations and legal experts have questioned the transparency and oversight of these arrangements. Some reports suggest that financial incentives or other forms of support from the United States have played a role in securing cooperation from partner governments.
However, Congolese officials maintained that the deal imposes no costs on their side and aligns with principles of international cooperation. The Democratic Republic of Congo, one of Africa’s largest and most resource-rich nations, continues to grapple with internal challenges including conflict in eastern regions, economic pressures and governance issues.
Its willingness to participate in the programme has drawn mixed reactions, with some viewing it as pragmatic engagement on the global stage while others express concern about potential strains on local resources and services. Earlier indications from diplomatic sources suggested that talks between Washington and Kinshasa were ongoing, with details still being finalised.
Sunday’s statement appears to confirm that an agreement has been reached, though full terms remain limited in the public domain. The programme has sparked wider debate about the balance between effective migration management and protection of vulnerable individuals.
In several instances, migrants sent to third countries have reportedly sought to return to their original home nations or faced difficulties integrating in the receiving states. For the United States, these deals form part of a strategy to increase overall deportation numbers amid domestic political priorities.
For participating countries, the arrangements can represent opportunities for diplomatic or financial engagement, even if the immediate benefits to local populations remain unclear. As deportees begin arriving in Congo this month, attention will focus on how authorities implement the individual review process and manage reception facilities.
The government has indicated that designated sites in the capital will be used, but further operational details have not been released. The development underscores the expanding reach of US deportation policy into Africa and highlights the complex interplay between migration, diplomacy and human rights in international relations.
