US considers Congo, Afghanistan return for stranded Afghan allies in Qatar

The US is reportedly offering over 1,100 Afghans stranded in Qatar the option of moving to the Democratic Republic of Congo or returning to Afghanistan. Many fear returning home due to possible Taliban persecution. The plan is linked to efforts to close the camp and pursue third-country resettlement, though Congo has not been confirmed. Over 190,000 Afghans have already been resettled in the US since 2021, but processing has since been halted.

The United States is reportedly considering a plan to offer former Afghan allies who are currently stranded in Qatar the option of relocating to the Democratic Republic of Congo or returning to Afghanistan, according to an activist who spoke on Tuesday.
The administration of President Donald Trump, which has made a broad crackdown on immigration one of its central policy priorities, had earlier set a March 31 deadline to shut down a camp where more than 1,100 Afghans were being housed at a former US military base in Qatar.
These Afghans have been passing through the base for processing as they seek resettlement in the United States. Many of them fear persecution from the Taliban due to their past work with US forces before the American withdrawal and the collapse of the Western-backed Afghan government in 2021.
Shawn VanDiver, a US military veteran who leads AfghanEvac, an organisation dedicated to assisting former Afghan allies, said he had been briefed that the Trump administration was considering offering the stranded Afghans a choice between relocation to the Democratic Republic of Congo or returning to Afghanistan. He added that he expected most of the Afghans would refuse the option of moving to the African country.
The US State Department declined to confirm whether the Democratic Republic of Congo was being considered as a resettlement destination. However, it stated that the United States was exploring “voluntary resettlement” options from the as-Sayliyah camp in Qatar.
A State Department spokesperson said, “Moving the (camp) population to a third country is a positive resolution that provides safety for these remaining people to start a new life outside of Afghanistan while upholding the safety and security of the American people.”
Since the fall of Kabul in 2021, more than 190,000 Afghans have been resettled in the United States, with the majority integrating into American society without major incidents.
The resettlement initiative was originally launched under former President Joe Biden and initially received bipartisan support, including from many Republicans who had supported the 20-year US military involvement in Afghanistan. However, the program was later scaled back as the US government dismantled broader refugee resettlement structures and suspended processing for Afghan applicants.