US Lawmakers Condemn Reported Plan to Relocate Afghan Allies to Congo

US Senator Emmanuel Cleaver has publicly criticized the Trump administration’s reported proposal to transfer vetted Afghan allies from a temporary camp in Qatar to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Cleaver described the potential relocation as a betrayal of individuals who assisted American forces, warning that such actions would further diminish the United States’ international credibility.

In a recent statement, Cleaver emphasized that properly vetted Afghan partners must be granted the security and resettlement commitments previously made by the US government. His remarks align with earlier condemnations from fellow lawmakers, including Senators Tammy Duckworth, Tim Kaine, Ed Markey, and Jeff Merkley, who have also urged the administration to abandon the relocation initiative.

According to the advocacy organization Afghan Evac, approximately one thousand one hundred Afghan allies remain housed at the Qatar facility. These individuals were transferred to the site following the conclusion of the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan. The proposed transfer to Central Africa was first detailed in a report by the New York Times, which indicated that negotiations are underway to establish a new resettlement location outside the United States.

Lawmakers and refugee advocacy groups continue to press the administration to halt the relocation process, arguing that the individuals in question have already undergone extensive security screenings and are awaiting final processing for US resettlement. The administration has not yet issued a formal response to the growing bipartisan criticism regarding the proposed transfer.