More than 30 deportees, with estimates ranging between 37 and 45, are expected to arrive in Kinshasa by Friday, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
None of them are Congolese nationals. Instead, they are believed to come largely from Central and South America, including Colombia, Peru, Chile and Guatemala.
The transfer would mark Congo’s first participation in a U.S. third-country deportation arrangement, under which migrants are sent to countries other than their own.
The migrants, according to the report, will be temporarily housed in a hotel near Kinshasa’s main airport for about 10 to 15 days.
They are expected to stay in single rooms with basic provisions, while security will be handled by Congolese police alongside private contractors. The hotel will remain open to other guests.
What happens after that remains unclear, raising concerns among rights groups and legal experts who question the legal basis and long-term implications of sending migrants to countries where they have no formal ties.
Critics say such policies risk undermining protections granted to some migrants, particularly those who had secured court orders preventing deportation to their home countries.
The development comes at a time of deepening ties between Washington and Kinshasa.
The U.S. has been involved in diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between Congo and Rwanda, where fighting linked to the M23 rebel group has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands in eastern Congo.
At the same time, Washington is seeking greater access to Congo’s vast reserves of critical minerals such as cobalt and copper, key to global clean energy supply chains.
Against this backdrop, the migration deal highlights how security, economic and immigration priorities are increasingly intersecting in U.S.-Africa relations.
Kinshasa has previously indicated it will not bear financial costs tied to hosting deportees, although details of the agreement have not been made public.
The International Organization for Migration is expected to provide limited post-arrival humanitarian assistance if requested by Congolese authorities. The agency said it is not involved in the deportation process itself.
