London, United Kingdom — Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo have each accepted formal accords to take back their nationals whom the United Kingdom classifies as illegal migrants or foreign offenders, following London’s warning that it would restrict visas for non-co-operative states. Official statements indicate that Angola and Namibia signed returns agreements in December 2025, within weeks of Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s public threat to impose visa penalties.
A similar undertaking from the DRC was confirmed on 6 February 2026 after the government in Kinshasa faced the same diplomatic pressure.
According to local reports, the UK Home Office had complained of “unacceptably poor and obstructive returns processes”, citing delays in issuing travel documents and requirements for deportees to sign their own paperwork.
The department had already indicated it could suspend or limit visa services for the three countries unless those hurdles were removed.
A brief government communiqué quotes Mahmoud as saying: “My message is clear: if foreign governments refuse to accept the return of their citizens, then they will face consequences.
” The arrangements add the southern-African trio to a list of nations that have signed returns or migration-partnership deals with London, alongside earlier signatories such as Albania, Nigeria and India.
The UK credits the tactic — grounded in 2022 and 2023 immigration legislation—with reducing hotel bills for asylum seekers and easing pressure on removal flights. Regional officials confirmed that no numbers of immediate returnees have been released, and the texts of the memoranda have not been made public, leaving the operational scope of the agreements unclear.
Local observers note that the three countries have comparatively modest UK diasporas: combined asylum applications from Angola, Namibia and DRC stayed below 3,000 in 2023, according to previously published Home Office data.
Nevertheless, British authorities argue that even small backlogs can create what they term “pull factors” for irregular movement. Independent African outlets portray the accords as capitulations under economic pressure, with governments fearing loss of tourist, student and business visas rather than reassurances about the welfare of returning citizens.
Civil — society voices warned that some of those affected may include stateless individuals, trafficking victims or people unable to reach consular services, though these concerns could not be independently verified.
Officials have not yet commented on timelines for the first removal flights or on safeguards built into the new pacts. Further details are expected.
Source: Africa.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
