Full Breakdown
U.S. Considers Relocating Afghan Allies to Congo or Afghanistan
4/26/2026, 2:40:40 AM
The Proposed Relocation Plan
The U.S. Department of State is evaluating options to move more than 1,000 Afghan nationals who assisted American forces and are confined at Camp As Sayliyah, a transit site in Doha, Qatar. Options under discussion are voluntary resettlement in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) or return to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. No third-country agreement has been confirmed.
Context and Numbers
The Trump administration halted the Afghan resettlement program in 2025, leaving roughly 190,000 refugees already in the United States and about 1,100 still at the Qatar facility. Camp As Sayliyah’s residents are 42 % children, include over 400 minors, more than 150 families of active-duty U.S. service members, and hundreds of women. The DRC shelters over 600,000 refugees, and the United Nations reports 8.2 million people displaced there as of September 2025.
Official Statements & Responses
State Department said, “We remain in regular and direct communication with residents on resettlement efforts… moving the Afghans to a third country is a positive resolution that provides safety while upholding the safety and security of the American people.” Abdul Qahar Balkhi declared, “Afghanistan constitutes the shared homeland of all Afghans and invites those concerned to return… there exist no security threats in Afghanistan.”
Criticism & Opposition
AfghanEvac president Shawn VanDiver condemned the plan, calling the DRC “not a responsible option” and arguing the choice was not truly voluntary. The AfghanEvac group also stated, “We do not want to go to the Democratic Republic of Congo” and warned, “The Taliban will kill many of us for what we did for the United States.”
On-the-Ground Sentiments
AfghanEvac members report deep depression and describe the uncertainty as overwhelming. A group chat said residents feel “pissed off” by the prospect of relocation and fear “certain death” if returned to Afghanistan. The prolonged limbo has taken a severe toll on mental health, with many describing their situation as “devastating.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
U.S. officials describe the plan as an ongoing discussion of “voluntary resettlement,” while camp officials posted, “NO third country has been confirmed or officially announced for resettlement.” Refugees learned of the proposal through media reports rather than direct notification, highlighting a gap in official outreach.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The DRC is not a responsible option,” — Shawn VanDiver, President, AfghanEvac
- “We will say this plainly. We do not want to go to the Democratic Republic of Congo,” — AfghanEvac group statement
- “The Taliban will kill many of us for what we did for the United States,” — AfghanEvac group statement
- “You cannot call a choice voluntary when the two options are the Congo and the Taliban.” — Shawn VanDiver
What’s Next
Congressional members have signaled interest in legislation to accelerate U.S. resettlement for the remaining Afghans. The State Department says it will continue regular communication with residents while pursuing third-country options. AfghanEvac and other advocacy groups plan additional public outreach to pressure the administration toward a U.S.-based solution.
