The new Angolan government headed by President João Lourenço has expelled 2,884 Congolese illegal migrants, state media reports.
The official Angop news agency reported that illegal migrants had been gathered in Lunda Norte province between September and October.
“During the police operation, another 10,128 people from the DRC voluntarily left the diamond areas ,” said Lunda Norte police chief Rodrigues Zeca. “The police also confiscated 80 dredges and 78 diamonds,” said Zeca.
Clandestine migrants were often attracted to Angola for diamond mining and business opportunities.
Angola has significant diamond reserves, mainly in the northeastern provinces of Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul.
A fortnight ago, the Angolan authorities expelled 432 illegal foreign nationals from Cabinda province.
The majority of the expelled came from DR Congo, with some others from the Republic of Congo.
