The UK's Home Office announced visa restrictions on DRC citizens late on Saturday, citing the country's insufficient cooperation with British authorities in repatriating migrants without legal status in the UK. The restrictions include the revocation of fast‑track visa processing and preferential treatment for VIPs and decision‑makers. The UK government warned that further measures, up to a complete halt of visas for DRC nationals, could follow if cooperation does not improve.
At the same time, Angola and Namibia have agreed to accept the return of illegal migrants and foreign criminals. The agreements were reached after the British government threatened visa penalties for any country that refused to cooperate with deportations of its nationals living in the UK without legal permission.
British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the UK expects countries to 'play by the rules' and take back their citizens if they have no right to be in the UK. She added that the visa measures are part of broader reforms intended to tighten asylum rules and ensure faster deportations of irregular migrants.
The move to curb DRC visas comes amid a wider push by the UK government to enforce stricter immigration controls, reflecting ongoing challenges related to irregular migration and asylum backlogs. While Angola and Namibia responded positively to the UK's pressure by agreeing to take back migrants, the DRC has yet to meet the cooperation standards required, prompting the visa curbs.
Rania Umutoni
