Colombian President Gustavo Petro has reacted to the news of the expulsions of Colombians to the Congo. “This is what you call ostracism… The Minister of Foreign Affairs has been ordered to immediately repatriate these Colombians from the Congo, unconditionally,” he stated in a message on X. The expelled individuals hope that their respective governments will be able to repatriate them. Although the two Colombians, Cubillos and Rodelo, both say that returning to the country they fled under threat was not initially planned, they believe it is now their best option given the circumstances. “They can help us there. What happened to me was eight years ago, so I hope to feel safer in Colombia and be able to start over. In the United States, nobody cares about what happens to us.” Not a single official has come forward to defend us.”
The expelled South Americans have been staying in a Kinshasa hotel since Friday and are receiving support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a United Nations agency, particularly in terms of food and medical care. The Congolese government will issue temporary visas and may even grant them longer residency permits if they intend to stay. But they all think about and want to return home as soon as possible.
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