The United States is reportedly holding confidential talks with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over a proposal to relocate more than 1,100 Afghan refugees who previously worked with US forces during the war against the Taliban.
The group includes interpreters, civilian contractors, and their families who were evacuated from Afghanistan following the withdrawal of US troops in 2021.
They are currently being hosted at Camp As Sayliyah in Qatar, where they remain in limbo awaiting US visas for resettlement. However, the process has stalled since 2025 following tightened US restrictions on Afghan refugee admissions.
While some legal rulings have sought to address individual cases, many applications remain unresolved, leaving hundreds of Afghans in prolonged uncertainty.
Refugee advocacy groups say nearly 900 of those affected meet eligibility criteria for resettlement in the United States, but no final progress has been made.
The reported proposal to relocate them to the DRC has drawn international concern, with critics warning that the country—already grappling with insecurity in its eastern region and hosting large numbers of internally displaced people—may not offer a safe or sustainable solution.
Human rights organizations, including AfghanEvac, have cautioned that the plan could expose the refugees to further risks, including the possibility of forced return to Afghanistan, where they could face persecution due to their past cooperation with US forces.
Meanwhile, the DRC has previously agreed to receive migrants deported from the United States, with an initial group of around 15 individuals arriving in Kinshasa on April 17, 2026.
The arrangement has sparked mixed reactions domestically and internationally. DRC Prime Minister Judith Suminwa recently addressed the issue in an interview with TV5 Monde, though her remarks were widely seen as leaving questions over the status and origin of the migrants.
The US government has not yet made a final decision on the broader relocation plan. The State Department says discussions are ongoing with third countries to identify safe and durable solutions for the affected Afghan nationals.
