The Kabul Tribune (KT) — ABC News has reported that the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump is considering sending hundreds of Afghans who supported American forces to the Democratic Republic of the Congo after halting their resettlement in the United States.
According to the report, about 1,100 Afghans — including
interpreters and family members of U.S. military personnel — are currently
being held at a U.S.-managed transit facility in Doha, Qatar. The group
includes more than 400 children and hundreds of women.
Shawn VanDiver, head of the advocacy group #AfghanEvac, said
he had been briefed by multiple officials about the plan, which was first
reported by The New York Times. He said the Afghans may be given a choice
between voluntary resettlement in Congo or returning to Afghanistan, where they
could face threats from Taliban forces.
The White House has not commented on the matter.
VanDiver criticized the proposal, saying Congo is not a
viable or safe option. He argued that presenting a choice between relocation to
a conflict-affected country and returning to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan
cannot be considered voluntary.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is currently facing one
of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with armed groups fighting over
territory. According to the U.N. refugee agency, about 8.2 million people were
displaced as of September 2025, with the number expected to rise further.
The U.S. State Department said it is continuing to explore
options for the voluntary resettlement of Afghans but did not provide details
about ongoing negotiations. A spokesperson said relocation to a third country
could offer a safe solution for those awaiting resettlement.
More than 190,000 Afghans who supported U.S. efforts have
already been resettled in the United States under strict vetting procedures,
according to #AfghanEvac. The remaining 1,100 individuals were also screened
under the same system.
The reported plan has drawn strong opposition from veterans,
lawmakers, and members of the Afghan community, who argue it contradicts
humanitarian principles and undermines U.S. commitments. Advocates have called
on Congress to intervene and allow the Afghans to resettle in the United
States.
The Trump administration had paused the Afghan resettlement
program in 2025 as part of broader immigration restrictions.
