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A plane carrying migrants deported from the United States landed in the Democratic Republic of Congo early Friday, the first such transfer under a bilateral deal signed this month.
Flight tracking data showed the aircraft arrived in Kinshasa at about 1 a.m. local time (0000 GMT). The deportees came from Colombia, Peru and Ecuador.
A Colombian woman on the flight told Reuters that 16 migrants, nine men and seven women, were on board, but an airport source gave the number as 15.
Congo’s interior ministry and a presidential spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment.
Lawyer Alma David, who represents one of the deportees, said the lower number may be due to last-minute rulings by US federal judges.
David said she knew of at least three cases where judges stopped removals.
It is unclear how many people may be deported under the agreement, announced on April 5.
The Colombian migrant, who spoke on condition of anonymity for safety reasons, said the flight was calm, and the crew treated passengers well.
She said the journey lasted about 26 to 27 hours.
“The flight was very calm. They treated us well and gave us enough food,” said the Colombian migrant.
The plane left Alexandria, Louisiana, and stopped in Dakar, Senegal, and Accra, Ghana, before reaching Kinshasa.
This is the first transfer of third-country deportees to Congo, a country facing insecurity, displacement and a weak asylum system.
The deportation agreement coincides with US efforts to broker peace between Congo and Rwanda. The conflict with Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in eastern Congo has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands.
The agreement also follows a separate strategic partnership giving the US preferential access to Congo’s minerals.
Once in Congo, the deportees received a seven-day visa allowing free movement, with a possible extension of up to three months, the Colombian migrant said.
She said officials told the group they could apply for asylum in Congo but discouraged them from doing so, warning that the country is dangerous.
