2025-12-28 09:00:00
In a dispatch carried by Punch, the UK government says it has imposed visa restrictions on nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo, citing the country’s poor cooperation in returning people the UK deems to be in the country illegally.
The move fits a wider UK approach that pairs tougher entry rules with bilateral return arrangements, pressuring origin countries to accept deportees while rewarding more cooperative states with easier mobility.
Visa sanctions can also strain broader diplomatic ties, raising the prospect of retaliation and knock-on effects for trade and security cooperation.
Reuters reports the UK cited “poor cooperation” on returns, while Al Jazeera describes the restriction as linked to an alleged failure “to cooperate with UK’s new asylum seeker return policy.”
Echotitbits take: This sets a precedent: visa policy is increasingly used as a migration-enforcement tool. Watch which countries are targeted next—and whether diplomatic deals soften the practical impact over time.
Source: The Punch — December 28, 2025 (https://punchng.com/uk-slaps-visa-sanctions-on-dr-congo-over-migrant-returns/)
The Punch 2025-12-28
Photo Credit: The Punch
