Doha, Qatar – More than 1,100 Afghan nationals currently living in Doha have categorically refused a United States proposal to resettle them in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), despite the Congolese government in Kinshasa having already agreed to accept them.
The group, who were evacuated from Afghanistan with U.S. assistance, made their position clear in a strongly worded statement. They say they have no intention of moving to a country they do not know, where they have no family ties, do not speak the language, and would hold no legal status—especially one that is itself affected by ongoing conflict.
In their statement, the Afghans declared:
“We make it clear that we do not want to go to the Democratic Republic of Congo. We have no family there. We don’t speak the language there. We have no legal status there. It is a country plagued by its own war. We have already suffered enough. We cannot take our children to another conflict. We also cannot return to Afghanistan. The Taliban will kill many of us for what we have done for the United States.”
The refusal comes amid efforts by the United States to find third-country resettlement options for Afghan evacuees who remain in temporary locations such as Qatar. While Kinshasa has signaled its willingness to receive the group, the Afghans have emphasized that the DRC does not offer the safety or stability they seek after years of displacement.
The situation underscores the complex challenges facing Afghan refugees who assisted U.S. operations during the war in Afghanistan. Many fear reprisals from the Taliban if forced to return home, yet they are equally unwilling to accept relocation to a nation they view as unsuitable and dangerous for their families.
As of now, the 1,100 Afghans remain in Doha, and it is unclear what alternative arrangements, if any, the United States may pursue.
