UK defends its controversial decision to resettle asylum seekers in Rwanda

Africa, Europe, News April 3, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

The British government plans to send thousands of asylum seekers to the East African country to deter migrants from crossing the English Channel into the UK. Britain’s Interior Minister Suella Braverman said that she is convinced that Rwanda is a safe country for asylum seekers.

The British government first unveiled its plans in April last year and was determined to send the first flight of asylum seekers to Rwanda soon after making a $150 million deal with the East African country.

According to the legislation, asylum seekers who enter the British territories via small boats would either be deported back to their home country or to a so-called safe third country. So far, the British government has managed to strike a deal with Rwanda to host the asylum seekers if they refuse to go back to ack their home countries.

After signing the deal with the British government to host most asylum seekers, the Rwandan government said that the deal gives the African country a chance to “take innovative action” to solve the global migration and asylum crisis.

The plan would enable Rwanda to offer “safety and security to migrants and refugees while creating education, training, and employment opportunities for them.”

Several other countries have been signing deals with Rwanda to establish programs where migrants and asylum seekers would be deported to the East African country. The list includes Israel, Denmark, and Australia.

The European Union also supports offshore asylum programs. The bloc has paid Turkey billions of dollars to keep refugees from reaching Greece and has funded the Libyan Coast Guard, which pushes migrant boats bound for Europe back to North Africa

^{U.K. Home Secretary Priti Patel and Rwandan Minister Vincent Biruta sign the migration and economic development partnership between the U.K. and Rwanda on April 14, 2022. (Image Credit: UK Home Office)}

Britain’s controversial step of outright deporting asylum seekers to a third country was interjected by the European Court of Human Rights after many human rights groups protested the legislation. Several cases were filed against the newly passed legislation in the courts.

London High Court ruled in December 2022 that the government’s efforts to resettle asylum seekers in another country are completely legal, however, the opponents are appealing against the ruling to reopen the case for hearing.

Upon being asked whether Rwanda is a safe country to host refugees, British Home Secretary Braverman said that sending asylum seekers to Rwanda is the right solution for Britain’s small boats problem. However, experts believe that the Rwandan administration’s motivation to host asylum seekers is purely financial in nature and the country does not possess the capability to deal with large-scale refugee settlements. In 2018, at least people died in Rwanda in clashes between police and refugees over rations distribution.