Congo government approves 69 adoptions, ending 2-year limbo for waiting families

KINSHASA, Congo – Congo's government has cleared the way for 69 children to join their adoptive families abroad after more than two years of waiting.

Fourteen of the children whose adoptions were approved Monday are now headed to the United States.

Other children are now headed to Italy, Belgium, Canada, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Authorities in Congo put a halt to international adoptions back in 2013, saying their adoption system was beset by corruption and falsified documents.

While dozens of adoptions have now been clear, more than 1,000 other children are still waiting.

Congolese Justice Minister Alexis Thambwe Mwamba indicated Monday that they must wait until parliament approves a new adoption law.

U.S. State Department officials say those children currently live in poor conditions in orphanages that could cause irreparable harm.