THE Rwandan government reaffirmed its full commitment to the migration deal with the United Kingdom on Thursday, responding to the ruling by the UK Court of Appeal that deemed the ‘plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda unlawful.’
The agreement between the UK and Rwanda, established in April 2022, aimed to process the claims of illegal immigrants and asylum seekers in the East African country.
However, the UK Court of Appeal overturned the High Court’s decision from last December, which had considered Rwanda a safe third country for asylum seekers and refugees.
According to the appeal court’s ruling, ‘the High Court’s decision that Rwanda was a safe third country is reversed and that unless and until the deficiencies in its asylum processes are corrected, removal of asylum-seekers to Rwanda will be unlawful.’
In response, the Rwandan government issued a statement expressing disagreement with the ruling. The statement emphasised that while the verdict falls under the jurisdiction of the UK’s judicial system, it challenges the notion that Rwanda is not a safe country for asylum seekers and refugees.
The legality of the migration deal had already faced scrutiny when asylum seekers contested the High Court’s ruling in the UK Court of Appeal, leading to the recent decision.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed strong disagreement with the Court of Appeal’s ruling and announced that the government would challenge it in the Supreme Court.
The Rwandan government’s statement maintained its commitment to the partnership, stating, ‘Rwanda remains fully committed to making this partnership work. When the migrants do arrive, we will welcome them and provide them with the support they’ll need to build new lives in Rwanda.’
The UK government had hoped that the migration deal would serve as a deterrent for migrants attempting risky journeys across the English Channel in small boats.
Officials from both Rwanda and the UK have viewed the migration deal as an important development in addressing irregular immigration, emphasising its collaborative nature.
