Kinshasa has responded to recent visa restrictions imposed by the United Kingdom on citizens of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The UK government announced on December 28th that it would be implementing stricter visa issuance policies, citing insufficient cooperation from Kinshasa regarding the repatriation of undocumented migrants.
In response, Congolese government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya affirmed that consultations with London are ongoing, with the aim of reaching an agreement before the end of January. However, a scheduled meeting at the Ministry of Interior on December 30th was postponed, with no official explanation provided for the delay.
Government sources in Kinshasa emphasized that the refusal to accept deportees without proper verification of their identities is linked to national security concerns. An official clarified that the DRC seeks to confirm the nationality of individuals claiming to be Congolese in the UK before agreeing to their return.
An official involved in international migration issues suggested that the government fears accepting deportations could set a precedent, potentially leading other European countries, such as France and Belgium, to take similar measures. Therefore, Congolese authorities are reportedly seeking to buy time to avoid a potential wave of mass expulsions.
The restrictions imposed by London include the suspension of expedited visa processing, with the threat of a more stringent measure involving a complete halt to visa issuance. While Kinshasa insists that no action will be taken before the conclusion of negotiations, the British side has not confirmed this assurance.
DZWatch continues to monitor this developing situation.
