Anneleen Van Bossuyt, Belgium’s Minister for Asylum and Migration, has travelled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo as part of efforts to discourage people from seeking asylum in Belgium.
The visit comes amid a sharp rise in asylum applications from Congolese nationals. Official figures show that applications increased from about 1,250 in 2023 to 2,500 in 2025, with more than 450 requests already recorded in the first three months of 2026.
Speaking on the issue, Anneleen Van Bossuyt described the numbers as too high and noted that only a small percentage of applicants are granted protection. In 2025, fewer than 15 percent of Congolese asylum claims were approved.
She argued that many applicants come from the capital, Kinshasa, rather than conflict-affected regions in the east, suggesting that most applications are driven by economic reasons. Under Belgian asylum laws, economic migration does not qualify for protection, and such claims are often rejected quickly.
The minister also raised concerns about the misuse of visa systems, stating that some individuals enter Belgium on tourist visas and later apply for asylum, which is not allowed under current regulations.
During her visit, Anneleen Van Bossuyt is expected to meet with Jacquemain Shabani Lukoo and other migration officials to strengthen cooperation, particularly on return policies and tackling irregular migration.
Belgian authorities have also launched an online awareness campaign aimed at informing potential migrants that asylum requests based on economic reasons are unlikely to succeed.
The move reflects a broader effort by European countries to manage rising migration pressures while tightening asylum policies.