IN a contentious move that has ignited uproar both domestically and abroad, a British law facilitating the deportation of unwanted migrants to Rwanda has passed, drawing sharp criticism. Critics within Rwanda and elsewhere argue that the East African nation is ill-equipped to accommodate asylum seekers while condemning the UK for offloading its responsibilities.
Under this new law, initially agreed upon with the Rwandan government two years ago, any asylum seeker arriving in the UK illegally will be redirected to Rwanda. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced plans for the first deportation flights to commence as early as July, a move that has been met with cautious approval from the Rwandan presidency.
However, outspoken critics like Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, a vocal opponent of President Paul Kagame, have decried the deportation deal as a form of ‘modern slavery,’ emphasising that Rwanda is essentially being paid to accept individuals unwanted by the UK.
‘We have problems with food security, malnutrition, poverty, joblessness, lack of housing, repression… So what will happen to these refugees?’ Ingabire questioned in an interview with French broadcaster RFI, highlighting Rwanda’s existing socioeconomic challenges.
Another prominent figure, Frank Habineza, who leads the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, voiced principled opposition to the arrangement, arguing that affluent nations like the UK should shoulder their responsibilities by hosting refugees rather than outsourcing the issue to third countries.
The UK government has already transferred the equivalent of €256 million to Rwanda in exchange for hosting migrants, with an additional €175 million slated for disbursement over the next three years. Furthermore, each resettled individual will be accompanied by an expense allocation of €176,000, according to an assessment by the UK’s National Audit Office.
Despite estimates suggesting that up to 50,000 people could be relocated to Rwanda, questions linger over the capacity of the country to effectively accommodate this influx. In Kigali, preparations have been underway for the past two years to house deportees, with infrastructure projects like the 100-bed Hope Hostel, funded by the UK, remaining vacant.
Proponents of the law argue that it will act as a deterrent, dissuading asylum seekers from embarking on perilous journeys across the English Channel. However, migrants like Boo Adam from Sudan, stranded in Calais, remain undeterred in their quest for asylum in the UK despite the looming deportation threat.
The Rwanda deportation scheme is anticipated to face legal challenges from various quarters, including charities and human rights groups, contesting the safety of Rwanda as a destination. The European Court of Human Rights, which previously halted the UK’s deportation efforts in June 2022, could once again intervene to stall deportation flights.
With a general election on the horizon in the UK, critics of the policy, including the opposition Labour party, have pledged to dismantle the scheme if elected, favouring alternative solutions like negotiating with the European Union to repatriate migrants to mainland Europe.