Three African countries agree to UK migrant returns after visa penalty threat

Following a threat of visa penalties from the UK Home Secretary, Namibia, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo have agreed to cooperate with the UK on the return of foreign offenders and illegal migrants. The UK government had previously warned these countries that visa issuance could be restricted if they did not improve cooperation on removals, citing frustrating delays in processing paperwork. The Home Secretary stated that countries refusing to accept the return of their citizens will face consequences. The agreement will allow the UK to remove or deport over 3,000 people from these three countries. The UK government is considering similar sanctions for other countries, including India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Somalia and Gabon, that are resistant to returns deals.