Beware UK 'cash for asylum seekers' deal with Rwanda

• Published date: 08 May 2024
• Publication title: Mail & Guardian: Web Edition Articles (Johannesburg, South Africa)

The measure received support in the British parliament, aligning with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's agenda of "stopping the boats". The scale of this plan is significant, with about 2,000 of 52,000 individuals slated for deportation within the next 10 to 12 weeks

Under the terms of this agreement, asylum seekers, both young and old who arrived in the UK through unauthorised routes may find themselves whisked 6,400km away to Rwanda, supposedly for good. Even lone children face the risk of deportation because they are classified as young adults.

While some view this as consistent with Rwanda's tradition of hospitality, the agreement has sparked criticism from human rights activists, politicians and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Concerns revolve around human rights violations and the lack of adequate safeguards and standards in this arrangement. Civil society groups and opposition political parties in Rwanda also have spoken out against the deal.

More so, Rwanda, which has a history of human rights abuses, has its refugees in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. The questions linger about its capacity to absorb an influx of vulnerable migrants, given its already strained resources and political tensions. More concerning is the lack of transparency about the deal. Neither government has provided details on how the partnership will work, leaving many to speculate on its implications for both the migrants and Rwandan citizens.

Despite all concerns and criticisms, the Rwandan government has pledged to accept these migrants in exchange for £120 million in the so-called "development deal" from the UK. Both governments agree that this plan offers a fresh start for migrants, with promises of support including training, accommodation and healthcare for up to five years.

This is not the first time such a deal has been proposed in Africa. Previously, Israel introduced a similarly contentious deportation plan to Rwanda and Uganda from 2014 to 2017. In January, reports suggest that Israel has been in discussions with the DRC about potential "voluntary migration plans" for Palestinians from Gaza.

Furthermore, unconfirmed reports claim that Denmark is also in negotiations with Rwanda for a similar deal. Botswana recently became the latest country to receive and reject a proposal to accept asylum-seekers from the UK. Foreign Minister Lemogang Kwape revealed this development in a recent interview with Newsroom...