The United Kingdom government has imposed visa restrictions on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, accusing Kinshasa of failing to cooperate in the return of its nationals who are irregular migrants or have criminal convictions.
In a statement, the UK Home Office said premium and fast-track visa services for Congolese dignitaries had been withdrawn, warning that a full visa suspension could follow if cooperation does not improve.
The move marks the first practical implementation of a controversial package of reforms aimed at strengthening deportations of those deemed to have “no right to remain.”
The statement also praised the cooperation of Angola and Namibia on migrant returns.
The step aligns with the policy of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has pledged to scale back temporary protections for refugees and accelerate removals in a bid to curb irregular crossings of the English Channel, which have exceeded 39,000 people this year.
The reforms have drawn sharp criticism. A former Foreign Office adviser described the measures as “shameful,” while former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said they amount to an attempt to “appease racist far-right forces in Europe.”
