The Trump administration is in talks with the Democratic Republic of Congo to resettle about 1,100 Afghans stranded in Qatar, according to an advocacy group.
The proposal highlights deep legal and political barriers facing Afghans left in limbo after U.S. visa processing stalled. Many fled the Taliban and were awaiting relocation to the United States.
The group is being held at Camp As Sayliyah in Qatar, a former U.S. military base once used for visa processing operations. Their hopes have faded since processing effectively stopped after the Trump administration took office in January 2025.
Shawn VanDiver, head of the #AfghanEvac coalition, said U.S. officials informed him of the Congo resettlement plan, which he called unacceptable due to insecurity in the country.
Congo is currently grappling with long-running conflict and renewed rebel advances in its eastern regions, raising concerns over safety and stability.
Many of the stranded Afghans are relatives of U.S. citizens or previously worked with U.S.-funded organisations during the 20-year war in Afghanistan.
The State Department said third-country resettlement could offer a path to rebuild lives outside Afghanistan, but did not confirm Congo as the destination.
Advocates say the group has already undergone vetting, yet visa processing remains frozen following policy shifts, travel restrictions, and security incidents cited by U.S. authorities.
VanDiver warned the plan risks leaving vulnerable families stateless or pressured to return to Afghanistan, where they fear persecution under Taliban rule.
The proposal follows earlier, unreported discussions about resettlement in Botswana, which collapsed amid policy disputes and visa bond requirements.
For now, the Afghans remain in a fragile waiting room of global diplomacy, their future suspended between continents and competing political calculations.
