Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt on deterrence mission in Congo: “Our asylum system is not meant for economic migrants”

Belgium’s Minister for Asylum and Migration, Anneleen Van Bossuyt, is on her first official visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo—and not without reason. The country currently ranks among the top three nationalities applying for asylum, alongside Afghanistan and Palestine.

While around 1,250 Congolese nationals applied for asylum in 2023, that number rose to roughly 2,500 in 2025. The trend is continuing this year, with more than 450 applications already submitted in the first three months. “That’s far too many, especially considering that only a small percentage are granted international protection,” the minister said. In 2025, just 14.9% of Congolese applications were approved. In the first three months of 2026, that figure dropped further to only 10.7%.

Economic motives are not valid grounds

Most applications come from Kinshasa rather than from conflict zones in eastern Congo. However, economic reasons are not valid grounds for asylum. These cases are therefore fast-tracked and rejected. “Our asylum system is not designed for economic migrants. Anyone who tries to use it that way has no chance of obtaining protection in Belgium,” Van Bossuyt stated.

The minister also pointed to abuses in visa procedures. Many Congolese nationals reportedly travel to Belgium on tourist visas and then apply for asylum, which is explicitly prohibited. Document fraud is also a recurring issue. Van Bossuyt stressed that anyone who misuses the system and is not entitled to asylum must leave the country—voluntarily if possible, forcibly if necessary.

A clear deterrence message

With this mission, the minister aims to deliver a clear deterrence message directly in Congo. “We want to explain how our official procedures work, so people are not misled by unscrupulous human traffickers,” Van Bossuyt said. She will engage extensively with local and international media, and an online deterrence campaign has already been launched.

During her visit, the minister will meet with Congo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Jacquemain Shabani Lukoo, as well as the Direction Générale de Migration, the Congolese counterpart of Belgium’s Immigration Office. These talks are intended to strengthen cooperation between Belgium and Congo on return policy and the fight against illegal migration.