Angola and Namibia reach a migrant repatriation agreement with the UK; the DRC faces visa restrictions
The UK Home Office said late on Saturday that Angola and Namibia have consented to accept the return of criminals and unlawful migrants after the British government threatened to impose visa sanctions on noncompliant nations.
After failing to meet Britain’s demands to increase collaboration, the Home Office claimed the DRC was denied preferential treatment for VIPs and decision-makers as well as fast-track visa services.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood warned that if “co-operation rapidly improves,” Britain may take drastic steps, including stopping all DRC visas.
“We expect nations to follow the rules. The Home Secretary continued, “They have to return any people who have no right to be here.
The accords are the first significant shift in the revisions that were announced last month to expedite the deportation of individuals who enter the country illegally and to make refugee status transitory.
The UK has “removed more than 50,000 people with no right to remain” since July of last year, a 23% rise over the previous year, according to Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, who also told ambassadors to prioritize returns.
