Story perspectives

Trump Weighs Relocating 1,100 Afghan Allies to Congo

4/25/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Trump administration is weighing moving 1,100 Afghan allies from Camp As-Sayliyah in Qatar to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
AfghanEvac says most have cleared extensive security vetting and more than 400 are children.
Afghanistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi urged the refugees to return home, claiming no security threats, while a State Department spokesperson called a third-country placement a positive resolution for refugee safety and U.S. security.

History

Historical Context

In 2004 the United States moved over 2,000 vetted Iraqi security personnel to Jordan, spending $1.2 billion and receiving a pledge of 5,000 acres for camps—a transfer reflecting Jordan’s practice of calling Iraqis “guests” after the 1990s Gulf-War influx. The Trump administration later arranged relocation of 1,100 Afghan allies from Qatar to the Democratic Republic of Congo, underscoring ongoing U.S. reliance on third-country resettlement.

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Story summary

The Trump administration is weighing moving 1,100 Afghan allies from Camp As-Sayliyah in Qatar to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
AfghanEvac says most have cleared extensive security vetting and more than 400 are children.
Afghanistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi urged the refugees to return home, claiming no security threats, while a State Department spokesperson called a third-country placement a positive resolution for refugee safety and U.S. security.

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