Three African countries set to take back thousands of illegal migrants after Britain's sanctions threat

Three African countries are set to take back illegal migrants after the UK threatened them with visa restrictions.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has become the third African country to agree to take back its citizens following threats from Shabana Mahmood at the end of last year over a lack of cooperation on returning foreign offenders and those without right to be in Britain.

The Home Secretary also halted preferential treatment for Congolese diplomats and VIPs and ended fast-track visa processing for the country’s citizens.

Two other African countries, Namibia and Angola, changed their position and agreed to accept deportees from the UK after being threatened with similar measures in December.

Ms Mahmood said: “My message is clear, if foreign governments refuse to accept the return of their citizens, then they will face consequences.”

Angola and Namibia both said they would take back their citizens a month after Ms Mahmood identified them as possible targets for penalties.

At the time, the Home Office accused all three countries of frustrating attempts to deport their citizens, refusing to process paperwork or giving people an effective veto over their own removal by requiring them to sign their own documents.

The three countries make up only a handful of people detected entering the UK through irregular routes, but the Home Office said the deal would allow up to 3,000 people to be removed from the country.

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