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This decision follows sweeping immigration reforms introduced last month, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government seeks to stem the flow of irregular migrants into the country.
A dispute between the United Kingdom and the Democratic Republic of the Congo has escalated due to Kinshasa’s refusal to cooperate with the new British policy of returning undocumented migrants and individuals convicted of crimes, according to reports.
Earlier, the UK Home Secretary announced she was withdrawing the DRC’s accelerated visa service and preferential processing for VIPs and officials. She warned that London could block visas for all Congolese citizens unless Kinshasa increases its cooperation.
Separately, she praised Namibia and Angola for agreeing to cooperate with these changes. This decision follows sweeping immigration reforms introduced last month, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government seeks to stem the flow of irregular migrants into the country.
The changes include making asylum status temporary and speeding up deportations for migrants arriving in Britain without documents. Asylum claims will be reviewed every 30 months, and individuals will be required to return to their home countries once they are deemed safe. Asylum seekers will also have to wait 20 years before applying for permanent residency, up from the current 5 years.
Official figures show that UK asylum applications have reached a record high, with over 100,000 people applying to stay in the country in the year ending June 2025.