RWANDAN lawmakers have voted to approve a treaty with the United Kingdom, signed last December, enabling London to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. The agreement, endorsed by at least 68 out of 70 lawmakers in a plenary session of the House, was signed by British Home Secretary James Cleverly and Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital.
According to Rwandan Minister of Justice Emmanuel Ugirashebuja, under the treaty, Rwanda will establish a special court to handle cases and legal matters concerning refugees and asylum seekers. Additionally, a standard operating procedure will be implemented to safeguard migrants against refoulement, with an independent committee tasked with auditing the agreement’s implementation.
Ugirashebuja explained that ‘refoulement’ refers to the return of individuals to their country of origin where there is a risk of persecution. Furthermore, an appeal tribunal will be established, headed by a Rwandan judge in collaboration with a counterpart from a Commonwealth country, providing migrants recourse in cases of perceived unfair treatment.
The treaty follows a previous deal signed in April 2022, aiming to facilitate the dispatch of certain migrants arriving in the UK via the English Channel to Rwanda for processing their asylum claims. However, the initial agreement, known as the Rwanda-UK Migration and Economic Development Partnership initiative, faced legal challenges, including a blockage by Britain’s Supreme Court last November.
Despite the ratification by Rwandan lawmakers, delays persist as the UK’s House of Lords recently voted to postpone the agreement’s ratification. The contentious plan continues to attract scrutiny and debate among policymakers and legal experts in both countries.
In exchange for Rwanda’s cooperation, Britain has offered an upfront investment of £120 million to support the implementation of the five-year agreement. The treaty’s approval signifies a significant development in the ongoing efforts to manage migration flows and address asylum issues, albeit amidst persistent controversy and procedural obstacles.