{
  "id": 123239,
  "title": "HUMAN RIGHTS OP-ED: African states must refuse to be complicit in the US policy of ‘third-country removals’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/human-rights-op-ed-african-states-must-refuse-to-be-complicit-in-the",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-04T09:54:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-08-04-african-states-must-refuse-to-be-complicit-in-the-us-policy-of-third-country-removals/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "African nations must refrain from collaborating in the United States' practice of \"third-country removals,\" where over 100 individuals have been forcibly relocated and deported to African countries, often facing severe human rights abuses and loss of freedom. On June 12th, a group of 17 people, including Turks, Afghans, and Iranians, were removed from the US and flown to Bangui, Central African Republic, where they lack connections and proficiency in the language. Of these individuals, all but one had been granted protection in the US from being returned to their home countries, yet they risked returning to their origin nations upon arrival in Bangui, violating the principle of non-refoulement under international law. Over a year, more than 100 people have been sent to third countries in Africa by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials. This inhumane and unlawful policy not only infringes upon the individuals' right to due process but also exposes them to human rights violations in their destination countries. Thirteen sub-Saharan African countries have signed removal agreements with the US, joining 13 others in the region. These agreements permit the US government to remove individuals, even those in the midst of immigration proceedings and with legal protection preventing their return due to the risk of torture. These removals are a result of the Trump administration's harsh and racist immigration policies, instilling fear among migrants, legal protection seekers, and racial minorities facing arrest due to racial profiling. Over 10 people have been killed during enforcement actions by ICE officers, thousands of migrants and asylum seekers have been detained, including children, in poor conditions, and more than 50 have died in detention since January 2025. Furthermore, individuals face challenges in contesting the forced removal orders. Many were removed while their cases were still under court review. Those sent to African nations, in violation of their rights, suffer additional human rights abuses, such as imprisonment, hotel stays, airport detentions, and restricted access to legal representation. In some cases, like Eswatini, individuals were denied access to a local lawyer for months. In South Sudan, people have been arbitrarily detained for nearly a year with no physical access to their lawyers, while in Cameroon, a lawyer seeking to represent removed individuals was arrested. The secrecy surrounding these third-country agreements, signed behind closed doors and often unscrutinized by national parliaments, exacerbates the issue. US senators reported over $32 million paid to five third countries, including three in Africa, for the removals. These agreements are often part of broader political negotiations characterized by an uneven power dynamic, with African nations securing US investments in sectors like health. These agreements are particularly cruel and cynical, given the US's discriminatory immigration policies against nationals of sub-Saharan Africa. In December 2025, nationals from 12 African countries faced a full ban on entry to the US, while 14 others experienced partial restrictions. The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights called for African states not to engage in or maintain migration partnerships with serious human rights risks in November 2025. African leaders must condemn the unlawful third-country removals, guarantee the protection of rights for forcibly removed individuals, and uphold the rights of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants on their soil, ensuring no financial contributions or potential pressure justify African states' complicity in the US policy.",
  "summary": "More than 100 people have been forcibly removed and deported from the US to third countries in Africa where they suffer rights abuses and loss of liberty.",
  "key_points": [
    "African nations urged to reject US 'third-country removals'",
    "Over 100 individuals deported to African countries face human rights abuses",
    "US signed removal agreements with 26 African nations, violating non-refoulement"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}