The United Kingdom has finalized deportation agreements with Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to facilitate the return of foreign offenders and illegal migrants.

The deals were secured after UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood threatened to impose visa penalties on these nations if they continued to obstruct the removals process.

Prior to the agreement, Home Office officials characterized the cooperation from these three countries as “unacceptably poor.”

Specifically, delays in paperwork and a requirement for migrants to sign their own deportation documents had effectively granted individuals a “veto” over their removal, stalling UK border enforcement efforts.

“If foreign governments refuse to accept the return of their citizens, then they will face consequences,” Home Secretary Mahmood warned following the announcement.

The UK’s coercive strategy mirrors tactics previously used by the U.S. government, leveraging visa access for travelers and students to compel diplomatic compliance from nations in the Global South.

SOURCE: BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA