The Democratic Republic of the Congo has agreed to receive migrants deported from the USA who are not Congolese nationals, as part of a new arrangement beginning this month. Authorities in Kinshasa have established temporary reception facilities, with logistical support provided by the US. Officials, denying that the scheme is permanent, have stated that deportees will not be forcibly returned to their countries of origin. The US is also negotiating a minerals deal with DR Congo to help gain access to its vast reserves of key metals such as cobalt, tantalum, lithium and copper. The agreement is the latest example of a broader policy; five other African nations have already accepted third-country migrants and probably received at least $32 million in aid in return. However, the approach has drawn criticism from human rights groups, who question its legality and implications for vulnerable individuals.