UK-Rwanda deportation deal becomes a reality but questions remain over asylum-seekers’ safety
Rwanda has received three home secretaries from the UK but not a single asylum-seeker.
James Cleverly is the latest to fly to Kigali since the UK-Rwandan deportation plan was announced in April 2022 – following in the footsteps of Priti Patel and Suella Braverman who were staunch supporters of the plan but still unable to get it past the UK courts.
On 15 November, the UK Supreme Court dismissed the plan as “unlawful” and said that Rwanda is not safe for asylum-seekers who cannot run the risk of deportation to their home countries.
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Today, the two countries went beyond their original Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and signed an internationally-binding treaty.
The 43-page document – the first of its kind – delves into guarantees around the asylum process and mechanisms to safeguard against forced repatriation.
Agreement establishes appeal mechanism
Non-removal clauses that protect individuals, in spite of their status, and a monitoring committee of eight independent members will address any shortcomings in the asylum process.
While the Rwandan government completely rejected reports of UK lawyers being stationed in their courts, they have agreed to set up an Appeal Body that would include Rwandan judges working alongside Commonwealth judges – with asylum expertise – to oversee legal processes and to hear individual appeals.
But is it enough?
Human Rights Lawyer Dr S Chelvan thinks not.
“Even before the ink was dry on that memorandum of understanding on the 19th of April 2022, Rwanda sent a Syrian national back to Syria via Turkey.
“So it is not an issue of parliament being assured by these promises.
“It is a fact that we need to have clear, cogent, strong evidence to show that Rwanda will comply.”
The Rwandan government insists it has a proven track record on welcoming refugees and is currently hosting at least 135,000 refugees, asylum-seekers and other displaced people as of the end of September, according to the UN.
‘Always room for improvement’
And, after signing the new treaty with Mr Cleverly, Rwandan Foreign Minister, Dr Vincent Biruta, dismissed concerns around his country’s safety, asking: “How did we go from model to dangerous country in just four short years? And how much of this perception is linked to internal UK policies?”
But he admitted “there’s always room for improvement for any system designed by any human beings, Rwandan or British.”
His government has already received at least £140m from the UK and the partnership’s economic component was heavily emphasised in their post-treaty signing briefing.
Mr Cleverly avoided answering questions around extra costs but insisted that the Rwandan government did not receive money in exchange for the treaty.
“Well the treaty itself, no additional money was asked for by the Rwandan government. None was given by the British government.
“Of course when a country is taking on responsibilities as Rwanda is doing, it is right and proper that there is remuneration to reflect the additional costs that they are bringing on.”
‘In Rwanda there is peace’
On the streets of Kigali, Rwandans are picking up on their government’s optimism around increased economic development and opportunities.
A woman told us that she thinks the deal will promote the relationship between the two countries and a Rwandan man said coming here will be good for migrants.
I asked him if he would choose to live in Rwanda or the UK.
“I can choose to live in the UK because there is some development and different activities.
“But,” he added resolutely, “in Rwanda there is peace.”