US Senators Oppose Plan to Move ‘Afghan Allies’ from Qatar to Congo – KabulNow
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – A group of 29 U.S. senators has called on the Trump administration to halt any plan to relocate more than 1,000 Afghan nationals from Qatar to the Democratic Republic of Congo, citing concerns for their safety.
In a letter dated April 28 to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the senators stated they were “profoundly alarmed” by reports that Afghans who had worked with U.S. forces could be transferred to Congo, a country facing ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis.
The lawmakers, including Richard Blumenthal, Dick Durbin, Tim Kaine, John Hickenlooper, Ruben Gallego, John Fetterman, and Mark Kelly, said many of those affected served as interpreters, special operations partners, or support staff during the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan.
They said the individuals had undergone extensive vetting over the past two decades and were promised resettlement in the United States after the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Many were evacuated following the withdrawal of U.S. forces and have since remained in temporary facilities in Qatar.
“Should the Administration pursue these negotiations with the DRC and relocate those families, it would constitute one of the most cruel and imprudent betrayals in our nation’s history,” the senators wrote. They called on Secretary Marco Rubio to end any talks that could lead to involuntary or coerced transfers to third countries unable to ensure the Afghans’ safety.
The New York Times, citing US officials, reported earlier that the US government is considering relocating more than 1,100 Afghans who have been in limbo for over a year at Camp As Sayliyah, a former US military base in Qatar, to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The group includes former Afghan special forces members, interpreters, and their families, including hundreds of women and children.
The senators said those affected now face what they described as a “false choice” between returning to Afghanistan, where they could face retaliation from the Taliban, or relocation to a country struggling with displacement, violence, and limited resources.
President Donald Trump said last week he was not aware of any such relocation plan and added he would look into the matter. The State Department has not officially confirmed negotiations with Congo and has described its efforts as seeking “responsible, voluntary resettlement options.”
The reported plan has drawn sharp criticism from US lawmakers, refugee advocacy groups, and the Afghans themselves. In a separate statement, several democrat lawmakers, including representatives Gregory Meeks and Sydney Kamlager-Dove warned that such a move could put lives at risk and undermine U.S. credibility.
Afghans at the camp have also opposed the reported transfer, citing security concerns, lack of legal status, and uncertainty about conditions in Congo. In a statement, they said they did not want to be moved to another conflict-affected country and ruled out returning to Afghanistan, saying they could face retaliation due to their past work with U.S. forces.
“This is not a fear. This is a fact,” they said, referring to the risks they say they would face if returned to Afghanistan.
The reported plan comes more than a year after the Trump administration halted the Afghan resettlement programs upon returning to office, leaving many approved allies in prolonged uncertainty. Critics argue the situation could undermine longstanding U.S. commitments to those who risked their lives in support of American military operations.
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