KINSHASA/BRUSSELS — November 14, 2025 Belgium continues to record a sharp rise in asylum applications from nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with more than 2,000 requests filed in the first ten months of 2025. The figures place the DRC as the fourth-largest source country for asylum seekers in Belgium, alongside Afghanistan, Palestine, and Eritrea.
The statistics were presented Thursday in Kinshasa by Freddy Roosemont, Director General of Belgium’s Immigration Office, during a press briefing attended by Joris Salden, Director General for Consular Affairs at the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Roosemont noted that asylum applications from Congolese citizens rose from 1,907 in 2024 to 2,120 between January and October 2025, with an additional 80 requests already filed in November. He warned that the total could surpass 2,500 by year’s end.
“This is not normal,” Roosemont said. “Most of these applicants are not victims of persecution under the 1951 Geneva Convention. They are not targeted for political, religious, or social reasons. Many simply believe the asylum process is a way to remain in Belgium.”
According to Roosemont, a significant portion of Congolese applications involve false declarations or forged documents, amounting to what he described as “a misuse of procedure.” He added that many applicants enter Belgium legally on short-term Schengen visas, only to file asylum claims once inside the country.
“The Schengen C visa is for tourism, family visits, or medical reasons — not for settlement,” he explained. “For most Congolese applicants, there is no genuine fear for life or liberty. This is an abuse of the asylum system.”
Roosemont stressed that the majority of Congolese asylum claims — between 85 and 90 percent — are rejected. Applicants often end up living in precarious conditions without financial support, before being ordered to leave Belgium. Those who remain are eventually deported, sometimes forcibly, in cooperation with Belgian police.
“This cycle leads to negative outcomes: visa refusals, entry bans, and forced returns,” Roosemont said. “We need the press to inform people that asylum is not a pathway to jobs, housing, or benefits. It is strictly for those facing real persecution.”
Belgium and the DRC share deep historical ties, reflected in a large Congolese community of students, workers, and families. However, the recent surge in asylum requests has strained the system.
Observers point to persistent political tensions, worsening insecurity in eastern Congo, economic decline, and rising poverty as drivers of migration. Despite official reassurances, conditions inside the DRC remain fragile, fueling hopes among many Congolese that Belgium offers a better future.
