Fifteen foreign nationals deported from the United States, mostly believed to be South Americans, have arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) under a temporary hosting arrangement that is already drawing international attention and debate over migration policy and diplomatic cooperation.

The deportees landed at N’djili International Airport in Kinshasa in the early hours of Friday, according to airport sources who confirmed that the group was largely made up of Colombian and Peruvian nationals.

The arrangement marks the first known batch of deportees sent to the Central African nation under a broader US policy of relocating “third-country migrants”,  individuals returned to a country that is neither their origin nor initial destination.

A Congolese government source said the individuals were admitted under short-stay permits and in line with national immigration laws governing the entry and residence of foreigners.

However, authorities stressed that the arrangement is strictly temporary. “The individuals concerned are admitted to the national territory under short-stay permits, in accordance with national legislation concerning the entry and residence of foreigners,” the government stated, while offering no additional details about the identities or conditions of the deportees.

Kinshasa had earlier defended its decision to participate in the arrangement, describing it as consistent with its commitment to human dignity, migrant protection, and international solidarity.

Officials were quick to clarify, however, that the agreement should not be interpreted as a long-term relocation scheme or a form of outsourced migration control.

The United States, under its ongoing immigration enforcement policy, has expanded the practice of transferring deportees to third countries. Similar arrangements have reportedly been made with Ghana, South Sudan, and Eswatini, as Washington intensifies its crackdown on irregular migration.

Although the US State Department declined to comment on specific diplomatic communications with partner countries, it reaffirmed the administration’s hardline stance.

The department said the government remains “unwavering in its commitment to end illegal and mass immigration and bolster America’s border security.”

A minority report from the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee further suggested that the administration may have spent more than $40 million on third-country deportations up to January 2026, though officials concede that the full cost remains unclear.

The report also indicated that over $32 million had been directly disbursed to several partner countries, including Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, El Salvador, Eswatini, and Palau.

Beyond immigration cooperation, the development comes at a time of deepening US engagement in the DRC over strategic mineral resources.

Washington is reportedly negotiating access to the country’s vast reserves of cobalt, lithium, tantalum, and copper,  minerals critical to global technology and energy industries.

The arrangement also coincides with renewed diplomatic efforts aimed at stabilizing eastern Congo, where conflict involving the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group continues to threaten regional peace.

Following recent talks mediated by the United States and Qatar in Switzerland, both the Congolese government and rebel representatives agreed on measures including humanitarian access, civilian protection, and steps toward a monitored ceasefire.

Despite these diplomatic advances, tensions remain high.

Rwanda has repeatedly denied allegations of supporting the M23 rebels, insisting instead that its military posture is defensive in nature and aimed at countering security threats from armed groups operating within Congolese territory.

CARICOM Urges Regional Unity Over Global Crisis Impact on Food Security

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has called for urgent regional coordination and strategic policy action to cushion the impact of the ongoing Middle East conflict on food security and economic stability across member states.

Assistant Secretary-General of CARICOM, Wendell Samuel, made the call during a virtual dialogue held on April 10, warning that decisions taken now would shape the region’s ability to withstand current and future global disruptions.

“This moment calls for strategic thinking and regional solidarity. The decisions we take now will determine not only how CARICOM navigates this crisis, but how prepared we are for future global disruptions,” Samuel said.

The dialogue, hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, focused on the implications of the conflict for Latin America and the Caribbean, with particular attention to food systems, agriculture, and macroeconomic stability.

Samuel, who oversees Economic Integration, Innovation and Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, disclosed that the regional bloc had developed a draft response matrix to mitigate the anticipated fallout of the crisis, especially on food security.

According to him, the framework, which will be presented to regional Ministers of Agriculture, is designed to provide a comprehensive policy guide linking external shocks to targeted responses.

He explained that the matrix outlines both short-term stabilisation measures and long-term reforms aimed at strengthening resilience, reducing vulnerabilities, and ensuring coordinated regional action.

Highlighting priority areas, Samuel said CARICOM countries must strengthen collaboration in procurement, logistics, and strategic food reserves, while accelerating investments in renewable energy and resilient agricultural systems.

He also stressed the need for improved policy alignment among member states to enable swift collective responses to external shocks, alongside strengthening regional institutions responsible for food security and economic monitoring.

“While the region is geographically distant from the conflict, our economies remain highly exposed to global shocks transmitted through energy markets, food systems, and international supply chains,” he said.

Samuel further noted that CARICOM states remain structurally vulnerable due to their heavy reliance on imports of food, fuel, fertilisers, and shipping services, making them susceptible to global disruptions.

He warned that rising inflation, declining food affordability, and fiscal pressures are immediate concerns for governments in the region, rather than distant risks.

The CARICOM official emphasised the importance of understanding the transmission channels of global shocks and advancing practical, coordinated policy responses to safeguard the region’s economic stability.

Kyiv Shooting: Six Killed, 14 Injured as Gunman Dies in Police Shoot-out

No fewer than six persons were killed and 14 others injured on Saturday after a gunman opened fire on residents in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, before taking hostages in a supermarket in the southern Holosiivskyi district.

Authorities confirmed that the attacker was later killed during a shoot-out with security operatives, bringing an end to the tense standoff that left the city reeling.

Ukraine’s Interior Minister, Igor Klymenko, disclosed that two police officers who were seen in a viral video abandoning civilians at the scene had been suspended, adding that an investigation into their conduct had commenced.

Footage circulating online showed officers reportedly withdrawing from the scene as the attack unfolded, sparking outrage and raising concerns over police response.

Klymenko, in a statement posted on Telegram, stressed the need for accountability. He said, “‘Serve and protect’ is not just a slogan. It must be supported by appropriate professional actions, especially at critical moments when people’s lives depend on it.”

He, however, cautioned against generalising the conduct of the entire police force based on the actions of a few officers.

Further condemning the officers’ behaviour, a senior official, Zhukov, told a press conference on Sunday that they “failed to assess the situation properly and left civilians in danger,” describing their actions as “unprofessional and unworthy.”

Zhukov subsequently announced his resignation, stating, “As a combat officer, I have decided to submit my resignation from the position I currently hold.”

Ukrainian authorities have classified the incident as a terrorist act, although the motive behind the attack remains unclear.

Klymenko noted that the suspect’s mental state appeared “clearly unstable.”

Eight of the injured victims are still receiving treatment in hospital, with one adult reported to be in extremely critical condition, while three others remain in serious condition.

President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a reaction on Sunday, criticised the officers involved, stating that they were present at the scene but “did not stop the murderer and fled on their own.”

He described their actions as “inaction” and confirmed that a criminal investigation had been launched, which would also examine their previous service records.

“We are going through a war and every day, unfortunately, there are human losses from Russian strikes. It is especially painful to lose people like this, in an ordinary city, just on the street,” Zelensky said.

Authorities have begun releasing details about the victims, revealing that one of those killed was the father of a child injured during the attack, while another victim was believed to be the child’s aunt.

The gunman, identified as a 58-year-old man originally from Moscow, had reportedly been residing in Kyiv’s Holosiivskyi district prior to the incident.

Officials said he previously lived in the eastern Donetsk region, an area heavily impacted by conflict and Russian occupation.

Investigators confirmed that the firearm used in the attack was legally registered.

However, efforts are ongoing to determine how the suspect obtained and renewed the necessary licence.

Although Kyiv has frequently been targeted in the ongoing war with Russia, officials noted that incidents of this nature remain rare in the city.

Klymenko ruled out an immediate mass review of gun ownership laws, insisting that citizens should retain the right to armed self-defence, particularly in light of the country’s ongoing security challenges.

Ukrainian law permits civilians to own non-automatic firearms under strict licensing conditions, including the absence of a criminal record or history of mental illness.