Trump administration plans to send Afghan evacuees to Democratic Republic of the Congo
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 5
Trump administration plans to send Afghan evacuees to Democratic Republic of the Congo
9 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 5
About 1,100 Afghans, including at least 700 women and children, are stranded at Qatar's As-Sayliyah camp after January 2025 flights to the US were cancelled.
Families say returning to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan is unsafe, while aid advocates warn conflict-hit DRC lacks infrastructure, legal protections and Afghan community support for resettlement.
Residents describe worsening mental health, poor living conditions and no schooling, while AfghanEvac says the US is also offering cash for voluntary return and 150,000 more Afghans await processing.
Could Afghan allies sent to the DRC under a resettlement plan face further deportation through existing US-DRC migration deals?
What precedent does relocating vetted US allies to a conflict zone set for future international agreements and promises?
Trump Administration’s Controversial Plan to Relocate 1,100 Afghan Allies to the Democratic Republic of Congo
Overview
Over 1,100 Afghan evacuees remain stranded at Camp As Sayliyah in Qatar as of May 2026, caught in limbo after U.S. refugee processing halted following a 2025 security incident. The Trump administration's failed attempt to resettle them in Botswana, due to visa bond disputes, led to a controversial proposal to relocate them to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a country facing severe conflict and humanitarian crisis. This 'voluntary' option is widely seen as coerced, forcing evacuees to choose between dangerous relocation or likely death if returned to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. The plan has sparked bipartisan political backlash, strong advocacy for U.S. resettlement, and military warnings about damaging future alliances, highlighting a profound crisis of trust and moral responsibility.