Viral X Post Claims 1,000+ Afghan US Allies Could Be Sent There
A highly viral tweet posted on April 22, 2026, by Congolese journalist and criminologist Steve Wembi has ignited fierce debate across social media and in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The post, which has racked up nearly 92,000 views, over 500 likes, and hundreds of replies in less than 24 hours, carries a provocative headline in French: “#RDC: Bonne Nouvelle ” (“#DRC: Good News” — with multiple alarm emojis clearly signalling sarcasm). The tweet claims that the Trump administration is preparing to deport more than 1,000 Afghan nationals who previously assisted the U.S. military. These individuals, currently housed in a former American base in Qatar while awaiting resettlement in the United States, have reportedly been offered “voluntary resettlement” in the DRC.
The Exact Claim in English Translation
Here is a direct translation of the tweet:
“#DRC: Good News The Donald Trump administration plans to deport to the DRC more than a thousand Afghans who helped the American army. Housed in a former American base in Qatar as part of their request for installation in the United States, 1,100 former collaborators have been offered a ‘voluntary resettlement’.”
The tone is deliberately ironic. While the words say “Bonne Nouvelle,” the warning emojis and the context of the ongoing U.S.-DRC migration deal suggest the opposite: many Congolese see this as yet another humiliating development for their country.
Context: The Broader U.S.-DRC Migration DealThis tweet did not emerge in a vacuum.
On April 5, 2026, the Congolese government quietly announced it had signed an agreement with the Trump administration to accept third-country nationals deported from the United States — people who are not Congolese but whom the U.S. cannot return to their home countries.
Just days later, on April 17, the first group of 15 migrants (mostly from Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador) arrived discreetly in Kinshasa at night. Washington is covering all logistical and financial costs, and Kinshasa insists the stay is strictly temporary, limited to facilities near the capital.
The DRC is not alone — other African nations including Rwanda and Uganda have struck similar deals. But the optics for the DRC, one of the world’s poorest and most unstable countries, are particularly stark.
Why This Tweet Hit a Nerve?
Congolese citizens reacted with a mix of anger, sarcasm, and dark humour. Common themes in the replies include:
- Security fears: Many worry that former Afghan allies (some with military training) could become mercenaries or destabilising elements, especially amid the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC. Some replies jokingly (or not) called them “new Wazalendo” or “Taliban cousins” who would join existing armed groups.
- Political betrayal: Critics accuse President Félix Tshisekedi of turning the DRC into “Trump’s trash can” or “poubelle migratoire” (migration dumpster) in exchange for political support or financial favours.
- Sovereignty concerns: Questions about why a nation already struggling with millions of its own internally displaced people would volunteer to host foreigners with no cultural or historical ties.
A few users dismissed the Afghan claim as “FAKE NEWS”, noting that mainstream reporting so far only confirms Latin American deportees. However, the general third-country agreement is real and open-ended, so the possibility of Afghan transfers remains plausible.
The Trump “Shithole Countries” Irony Returns.
The timing couldn’t be more pointed. In 2018, then-President Trump reportedly referred to Haiti, El Salvador, and certain African nations (including the DRC) as “shithole countries” during an immigration meeting. He questioned why the U.S. should accept immigrants from such places rather than from countries like Norway.
Eight years later, the DRC is literally stepping into the role some interpret as the “backstop” or “chiottes” (toilets) for U.S. deportation policy. The same country once insulted is now being asked to absorb people the United States no longer wants — at least temporarily. Whether this is pragmatic realpolitik (money, diplomatic leverage, or mining deals in return) or a sign of deeper weakness is the core debate. The DRC faces chronic conflict, weak institutions, corruption, and massive humanitarian needs. Accepting deportees adds new pressures on already strained resources in Kinshasa. What Happens Next? The Congolese government has not publicly confirmed or denied the specific Afghan claim as of April 23, 2026. If true, it would represent a significant escalation of the deal beyond the initial Latin American group. This episode highlights uncomfortable truths:
- Migration enforcement under Trump 2.0 is aggressive and global.
- Some developing nations are willing to monetise their territory for Western deportation needs.
- Public anger in the DRC is real and growing.
Steve Wembi’s tweet has perfectly captured the national mood — part alarm, part bitter sarcasm. Whether the Afghan story proves accurate or not, it has already amplified the conversation about what kind of country the DRC is becoming on the world stage. What do you think?
Is the DRC making a smart financial or diplomatic move, or is it compromising its sovereignty and security? Should Kinshasa reject further third-country deportees? Drop your thoughts in the comments below — especially if you’re Congolese or following the situation closely.
