On Tuesday, Britain and Rwanda finalized a new treaty, aiming to revive the controversial proposal of transferring migrants to the East African country.
The agreement, signed by Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta and British Interior Minister James Cleverly, seeks to address concerns raised by the UK Supreme Court, which earlier blocked the proposal as unlawful.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, determined to proceed with the project, emphasized the importance of improving the process.
“There is a lot of desire to continue to improve the process. The UK and Rwanda are working on this because it is important,” Cleverly said at a joint press briefing in Kigali.
“Rwanda is very committed to this partnership and that is why we worked with the UK government to address the concerns raised by the Supreme Court”, Biruta added.
“We do not have plans to withdraw from this partnership.”
The new treaty’s specifics were not disclosed, but it is expected to include commitments regarding the treatment of asylum-seekers and migrants sent to Rwanda.
Navigating Legal Hurdles
Alain Mukuralinda, deputy spokesman for the Rwandan government, outlined plans to establish a joint tribunal with judges from both Rwanda and the UK in Kigali.
The tribunal aims to ensure that immigrants sent to Rwanda are not deported to their home countries. This proposal requires approval and voting from the parliaments of both nations.
While the specifics of the new agreement remain undisclosed, British media reports suggest it will incorporate commitments from Rwanda regarding the treatment of asylum-seekers and migrants sent to the country.
The UK Supreme Court’s decision last month posed a significant setback for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. In response, Sunak plans to introduce “emergency legislation” in parliament designating Rwanda as a safe country, aiming to resolve the persistent legal challenges.
Expressing frustration with the obstacles faced by the Rwanda policy, Sunak affirmed his commitment to addressing the issue definitively and ending the legal challenges.
The UK-Rwanda migration “partnership” established in April last year envisioned sending individuals who had undertaken what London terms “dangerous or illegal journeys” to Britain via small boats from Europe or concealed in lorries to Kigali.
Meanwhile, the he initial attempt to deport individuals to Rwanda in June 2022 was halted by a European Court of Human Rights injunction, leading to subsequent legal hurdles.
Activists, including Yasmine Ahmed from Human Rights Watch, have criticized the plan, emphasizing Rwanda’s track record of human rights violations.
Rwanda, under the de facto leadership of Paul Kagame since the 1994 genocide, faces scrutiny as President Kagame seeks to extend his rule in upcoming elections. The UK government defends the bilateral scheme, considering it crucial to combat “illegal” immigration across the Channel from France.
Despite the challenges, with nearly 30,000 individuals undertaking the perilous journey this year, the UK remains determined to implement the partnership with Rwanda.
James Cleverly, the British interior minister, highlighted the commitment to the plan, emphasizing Rwanda’s status as a safe country. The government aims to address concerns raised by the Supreme Court through a new internationally recognized treaty agreement.
Ada Peter
