A first group of migrants from the United States has arrived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, marking the implementation of an agreement announced on April 5 between Kinshasa and Washington. The flight landed overnight at Ndjili International Airport in the capital. According to multiple sources, the plane departing from the U.S. made at least one stopover in Accra, Ghana, before reaching Kinshasa.
Fifteen migrants received upon arrival
According to reports from Radio France Internationale, the group consists of 15 individuals—seven women and eight men. They are reportedly nationals of Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador. Upon arrival, they are expected to be taken care of by the International Organization for Migration, which operates in Kinshasa.
A planned and prepared operation
Diplomatic sources indicate that the operation had been anticipated. Spanish-speaking staff were recruited to manage the case and assist the migrants, given their Latin American backgrounds.
Authorities have not yet disclosed where the group will be temporarily housed.
More arrivals expected under the agreement
This initial group is expected to be followed by another contingent of 15 migrants “imminently,” according to the same sources.
Although the full details of the agreement remain undisclosed, it reportedly предусматриes the reception of between 50 and 100 migrants from the United States each month. All operational costs are said to be covered by the U.S. administration.
Temporary stay before repatriation
Congolese officials stress that the migrants are not intended to settle in the country. They will be temporarily hosted before being repatriated to their countries of origin.
The DR Congo is part of a broader U.S. policy involving several African nations—including Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Eswatini—agreeing to temporarily receive migrants deported from the United States.
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