Angola Expels 2,884 Congolese

The new government of Angola has expelled 2,884 Congolese illegal migrants, state-owned media confirmed.

State news agency Angop said the illegal migrants were rounded up in Lunda Norte Province between September and October.

“During the police operation, 10,128 other DRC nationals voluntarily left the diamond exploration areas,” Angop quoted Lunda Norte police boss Rodrigues Zeca saying.

“The police also confiscated from the migrants 80 dredges and 78 pieces of diamond,” Mr Zeca was further quoted.

Illegal migrants were often attracted to Angola for diamond exploration and business opportunities.

Angola has extensive diamond reserves, principally in the Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul provinces in the northeast.

A fortnight ago, Angolan authorities expelled 432 illegal foreign nationals from Cabinda Province.

The majority of the deportees were from the DR Congo, with a few others from the Republic of Congo.

Reuters