Central African Republic agrees to accept U.S. third‑country deportees

The agreement comes against the backdrop of the Central African Republic’s fragile political and economic situation.

The Central African Republic has agreed to accept migrants deported by the United States under a new arrangement, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The deal marks the latest in a series of agreements struck by the Trump administration with African states to accelerate removals of so‑called third‑country deportees.

Washington has already sent deportees to countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea, under arrangements that Senate Democrats say have cost tens of millions of dollars and lack transparency. Rights groups argue the practice allows the U.S. to bypass legal protections granted by immigration courts, which in many cases have blocked deportations back to migrants’ home countries.

A Central African government official said that the agreement was discussed during a May 18 meeting in Bangui with a U.S. delegation led by Christian Jové Ehrhardt, deputy assistant secretary in the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration. “Central African Republic will indeed take in, within the framework of agreements with the U.S., immigrants deported by American authorities,” the official said, requesting anonymity. A diplomat based in the region confirmed that a deal had been reached.

The timing of the first flights remains unclear. Neither source provided details on how many migrants would be sent, their nationalities, or when deportations might begin. However, a recent U.S. court ruling suggests attempts are already underway. On May 22, District Judge Lee Rosenthal issued a temporary restraining order blocking the deportation of a Turkish national, noting that U.S. officials had planned to remove the person to the Central African Republic on May 26.

The agreement comes against the backdrop of the Central African Republic’s fragile political and economic situation. Since independence from France in 1960, the country has endured repeated cycles of unrest, leaving most of its 5.5 million citizens in poverty. President Faustin‑Archange Touadera, re‑elected for a third term last December, has leaned heavily on Russian security support but has also signaled renewed interest in Western partnerships, particularly in the mining sector.

For Washington, the deal reflects a broader strategy of outsourcing deportations to African states willing to accept migrants from third countries. U.S. officials defend the practice as lawful, but critics say it undermines international norms and exposes deportees to serious risks in unstable environments.