The Trump administration is considering a plan to relocate more than 1,000 Afghan nationals to the Democratic Republic of Congo, as Washington seeks alternative solutions to the stalled US visa process that has plunged many people into prolonged uncertainty.

The proposal concerns approximately 1,100 Afghans currently in Qatar, where they have been transferred to complete the immigration formalities necessary for their entry into the United States.

According to Reuters, this process has slowed considerably since policy changes in 2025, leaving claimants in difficulty despite years of waiting after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Shawn VanDiver, director of the Afghan rights organization #AfghanEvac, told Reuters that US officials had informed him of the possible relocation plan. He criticized the idea, calling it "unacceptable" and citing ongoing security problems in the Congo.

Many of those affected either worked for US-backed organizations during the two decades of war or have family ties in the United States.

Although a federal judge ruled earlier this year that restrictions imposed on certain Afghan visa procedures were illegal, the processing of those applications remains largely at a standstill, Reuters reported.

The ties between the United States and the DRC are strengthening beyond mineral resources.

These discussions on relocation are taking place within the context of a broader expansion of American engagement in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In recent months, Washington has concluded agreements with Kinshasa on the supply of critical minerals and mining cooperation – sectors considered strategically important to counter China's dominance over global supply chains.

In February 2026, the United States and the DRC advanced the implementation of their strategic partnership agreement at the inaugural meeting of the Joint Steering Committee in Washington, officially activating cooperation within this framework.

A joint statement issued after the meeting highlighted the direction of the investment planned in the agreement, stating:

"American companies will benefit from preferential access to these resources… thus creating the conditions necessary for significant investments in the DRC's critical minerals sector."

This agreement aims to enhance Western countries' access to strategic minerals, particularly cobalt and copper, while supporting the development of the broader value chain for critical minerals in the DRC.

In parallel with the critical minerals partnership, the Democratic Republic of Congo also entered into a separate agreement with Washington to host third-country nationals expelled from the United States.