The Democratic Republic of Congo is negotiating a landmark deal with the United States that would see the Central African nation accept migrants expelled by Washington — in exchange for a major mining partnership with American companies, according to sources close to the discussions.
Exclusive reporting by The Africa Report reveals that Kinshasa has been in secret talks with the Trump administration for nearly a year. The negotiations are part of a broader diplomatic and economic push aimed at restoring peace in eastern DR Congo and attracting significant American investment into the country’s vast mineral sector.
A Two-Pronged Strategy
Beyond the ongoing peace process with Rwanda — which saw both countries sign a US-brokered agreement in Washington in December 2025 — Congo is now working on a second American proposal: hosting migrants deported by the United States.
Under the emerging arrangement reportedly worth $1.2 billion over five years (2026–2031), Congo would receive deported migrants in exchange for preferential access to its rich mineral deposits, including cobalt and copper — resources critical to American technology and defense supply chains.
The exact terms remain under negotiation. Key details, including the number of migrants Congo would accept and the timeline for implementation, have yet to be finalised.
Strategic Calculus for Kinshasa
For President Félix Tshisekedi’s government, the deal represents a high-stakes gamble. Congo is desperate for foreign investment to revive an economy long hamstrung by corruption, conflict, and poor infrastructure. A partnership with Washington would provide both capital and diplomatic cover at a time when the country is under intense international pressure over the endless violence in its eastern provinces.
The US, for its part, has been aggressively pursuing bilateral deals with resource-rich African nations as part of a broader strategy to reduce dependence on Chinese-controlled supply chains for critical minerals.
Humanitarian Concerns
Rights groups have raised concerns about the welfare of any migrants sent to Congo. The country itself hosts hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons and refugees from years of conflict in the east. Critics argue that accepting deported migrants could further strain already overstretched humanitarian infrastructure.
The negotiations come as the Trump administration continues to expand its worldwide deportation drive, sending migrants to a growing list of countries willing to accept them in exchange for diplomatic or economic concessions.
What Happens Next
Sources say talks are at an advanced stage but have not yet resulted in a final, signed agreement. Both governments are understood to be working through complex legal and logistical issues before any deal can be announced publicly.