The Central African Republic has agreed to take in migrants from other countries deported by the United States, two sources with knowledge of the matter said.

Washington has sent so-called third-country deportees to African countries including Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Rwanda, Eswatini, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea.

Washington has defended the deportations as lawful. The deal with Central African Republic was discussed during a May 18 meeting in Bangui with a US delegation led by Christian Jove Ehrhardt, the State Department's deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, a Central African government official told Reuters.

"Central African Republic will indeed take in, within the framework of agreements with the US, immigrants deported by American authorities," said the official, who requested anonymity. A diplomat based in the region, also speaking on condition of anonymity, also said a deal had been reached.

Funding IOM

President Faustin-Archange Touadera, who won a third term in an election held last December, has turned to Russia for security support, although he has also signalled a renewed interest in Western partnerships for critical minerals.

Neither the Central African government source nor the diplomat based in the region had details on how many migrants would be sent to the country, their nationalities or when the flights might start, although one recent court judgement shows attempts have already started.

An official at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed to Reuters that the agency would be involved in assisting deportees once they arrive in Central African Republic.

The IOM has already provided assistance to third-country deportees elsewhere in Africa, including DR Congo. This year, the US awarded $85 million to the IOM for operations in Central African Republic.