DRC Describes Temporary US Migrant Reception as a “Service” Under Bilateral Arrangement

Kinshasa, April 20, 2026 - The Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo has said that the country’s temporary reception of migrants deported from the United States is being carried out as a cooperative “service” under a bilateral arrangement between Kinshasa and Washington. Speaking in a media interview, Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka confirmed that the program involves the temporary hosting of third-country nationals transferred from the United States, describing the initiative as strictly transitional and time-limited. She indicated that the individuals concerned are asylum seekers and suggested they originate from several Latin American countries, while noting that their presence in the DRC is part of an agreement involving U.S. immigration authorities and international partners, including the International Organization for Migration. According to the Prime Minister, the arrangement is not intended as a long-term settlement mechanism, but rather a short-term humanitarian and logistical solution while alternative destinations are identified for the individuals concerned. She emphasized that the United States is covering all associated costs, including accommodation and basic needs, and described the agreement as a form of cooperation in which the DRC is providing logistical support to a partner country. Authorities in Kinshasa have reiterated that the program is temporary in nature and will be implemented in compliance with international humanitarian law and national legislation governing the entry and residence of foreigners. The initiative has already begun with the arrival of an initial group of 15 individuals in Kinshasa on April 17, marking the start of the operational phase of the arrangement. The program has, however, drawn political attention domestically, with parliamentary questions submitted to the National Assembly seeking clarification on its legal and operational framework. The initiatives have yet to be scheduled for plenary debate. Government officials maintain that the arrangement is strictly controlled, temporary, and part of broader diplomatic cooperation between the DRC and the United States.