Ruptly
"Civil society groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are raising concerns over what they called the government's lack of transparency regarding an arrangement with the United States to host ‘third-country' deportees. Footage filmed on Friday shows general views of the city of Kinshasa, where people can be seen carrying out daily activities. “Congo is not an experimental ground for US immigration policy or for adjusting policies, where they come to experiment in Congo," said Jonas Tshombela, coordinator of the New Congolese Civil Society. Tshombela expressed disappointment, saying that it felt like the government had not learned anything from the 1994 refugee crisis. "The population will not agree to live alongside people they do not know," he warned. "Therefore, the government must communicate and involve civil society as quickly as possible.” Writer Yves Yasuke Ponzo expressed his concern over the arrangement, adding that he thought it was fake news when he first heard of it. "It is shocking because initially we wonder, we are not actually given specifics [...] is not limited in time and is vague," Ponzo added. He said: "There is something else that is disturbing. It's as if we have to say to ourselves that when the United States vomits, we're the ones who have to clean up.” The Ministry of Communication on Friday announced the arrival of the 'first contingent' as part of the temporary reception mechanism for nationals of third countries. "This mechanism, strictly regulated, is of a transitional nature and in no way constitutes a permanent installation on the national territory," it added. The government has previously said that Washington will be providing 'logistical and technical' support to accommodate the deportees. However, the announcement of the agreement has sparked mixed reactions in the DRC, which has experienced years of conflict, leading to widespread insecurity and a strain on critical infrastructure, with clashes continuing in the country's troubled east."
Go to News Site