Media: African nations agree to take back UK-bound offenders

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Namibia, and Angola have agreed to take back thousands of criminals and illegal migrants following threats of visa sanctions from the UK, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood warned that ministers, diplomats, and tourists from non-compliant countries could face restrictions similar to measures imposed by former US President Donald Trump.

The Telegraph revealed in December that the UK had already imposed visa restrictions on the DRC after it initially resisted repatriation demands, scrapping preferential treatment for its diplomats and ministers and barring fast-track entry to the UK.

Under the new agreements, up to 4,000 convicted criminals, including murderers, rapists, and illegal migrants, can now be deported to the three African states. Mahmood stated: “My message is clear, if foreign governments refuse to accept the return of their citizens, then they will face consequences. Illegal migrants and dangerous criminals will now be removed and deported back to Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. I will do what it takes to restore order and control to our borders.”

The first deportation flight has already been sent to Namibia, with further removals to Angola and the DRC in progress. Mahmood highlighted that nearly 60,000 illegal migrants and foreign criminals have been deported or removed since Labour took office, with removals of criminals up 32% to 8,700 and illegal migrants up 45% to 15,200. “I vowed to scale up removals of illegal migrants – and we have. However, we must go further to remove those that have no right to be in our country,” she said.

The Home Office has introduced a “sliding scale” of visa sanctions for countries refusing to cooperate, ranging from temporary curbs on VIP and diplomatic access to full visa bans. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has instructed UK diplomats to adopt a more transactional approach to visas when negotiating returns, ensuring non-cooperative states cannot obstruct repatriations.

Video footage released by the Home Office shows nearly 50 foreign national offenders and failed asylum seekers being escorted onto a deportation flight to Eastern Europe, with their combined sentences totaling almost 70 years for crimes including drug offenses, fraud, theft, and weapons possession.

By Vafa Guliyeva