The UK government has announced the imposition of visa restrictions on individuals arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), following the DRC government's refusal to agree to new measures for returning illegal migrants and foreign national offenders. These changes come as part of an overhaul of the UK's asylum rules, unveiled in November.
According to UK ministers, the DRC has not implemented the necessary changes required by these stricter asylum rules. Consequently, fast-track visa processes for arrivals from the DRC will be discontinued. Additionally, the Home Office stated that VIPs and politicians from the country will no longer receive preferential treatment when entering the UK.
The Home Office has also highlighted that Angola and Namibia have agreed to enhance their efforts to repatriate their citizens. Both countries were previously threatened with sanctions alongside the DRC for failing to improve cooperation regarding removals. A government source noted that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is prepared to ban visas for other countries that do not cooperate in taking back their citizens.
An unnamed Home Office source described Angola and Namibia's agreement to improve their processes as the "first delivery success from last month's asylum reforms". The government had warned of stopping visa grants to individuals from Angola, Namibia, and the DRC if there was no swift improvement in their cooperation on deportations. The recent agreements are expected to lead to the removal and deportation of thousands of individuals.