Two African nations have agreed to new processes for accepting their citizens deported from the United Kingdom, following a direct threat of visa sanctions from the Home Secretary.
Pressure Yields Results on Returns
Last month, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood warned she could halt the issuance of visas to nationals from countries that refuse to cooperate with the removal of illegal migrants and foreign national offenders from the UK. She specifically named Namibia, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as the first nations facing this potential ban.
The Home Office accused these countries of having "unacceptably poor and obstructive returns processes," including refusing to process paperwork and requiring individuals to sign their own deportation documents, which effectively allowed them to block their own removal.
Agreements Reached, But One Nation Lags
The government has now confirmed that Angola and Namibia have agreed to new streamlined processes, which will allow the UK to return individuals in the coming months. In response, the UK has thanked both nations for their cooperation.
However, the Democratic Republic of Congo has so far failed to make the required changes. As a warning, the UK has revoked fast-track visa processing and halted preferential treatment for DRC diplomats and VIPs. While there has been some recent engagement, Ms Mahmood has reiterated her willingness to take further action, including a full visa ban.
A government source stated the Home Secretary "won't hesitate to go further and ban visas to other countries who refuse to take their citizens back."
Part of a Broader Immigration Strategy
This move forms part of the Labour government's wider strategy to overhaul the asylum system and increase removals. Since taking office in July 2024, the government claims nearly 50,000 people have been deported, including more than 7,000 foreign national offenders.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has instructed British diplomats globally to adopt a more transactional approach to speed up returns. "Today's announcement shows that when countries work with us, we can achieve more rapid results," she said.
Despite the high-profile warnings, the three targeted countries account for a very small proportion of UK immigration. In the year to June, they received only 712 visas combined out of over 800,000 granted. Similarly, very few migrants arriving via irregular routes came from these nations.
In a statement, Shabana Mahmood said: "We expect countries to play by the rules... I thank Angola and Namibia and welcome their co-operation. Now is the time for the Democratic Republic of Congo to do the right thing. Take your citizens back or lose the privilege of entering our country."
