NGOs protest UK decision to send asylum seekers to Rwanda
The United Kingdom and Rwanda announced on Thursday, during the visit of British Interior Minister Priti Patel to Kigali, the signing of an agreement under which London will now send, to this African country ‘Is, asylum seekers illegally entered its territory.
« As of today, anyone entering the UK illegally, as well as those who have arrived illegally since January 1, can now be relocated to Rwanda, » said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
These migrants will reside in Rwanda while their asylum applications are examined. But, even in the event that they obtain refugee status from London, it is expected that they will remain on Rwandan territory. The United Kingdom will finance this project, initially, with an envelope of 120 million pounds sterling (144 million euros).
For the British authorities, who point to the growing number of migrants in the country, it is a question of combating illegal immigration. This initiative could, according to them, discourage new illegal immigrants. « Ending illegal immigration is the only way to welcome those who really need protection, » said Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
But several NGOs have criticized this project, believing that if it is implemented, people fleeing different forms of persecution may again face other challenges.
For Amnesty International, the British decision is a « scandalously ill-conceived idea » which risks spending huge sums of public money unnecessarily. If for Minister Priti Patel, « Rwanda has already taken in many refugees, it is a safe country, which respects the rule of law », the NGO evokes the violation of human rights in this African country. ‘East.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) believes that “people fleeing war, conflict and persecution deserve compassion and empathy. They should not be exchanged like commodities and transferred abroad to have their files processed”.
For its part, « Rwanda welcomes this partnership with the United Kingdom to welcome asylum seekers and migrants, and offer them legal ways to live » on its territory, according to a press release from the Rwandan Minister for Foreign Affairs, Vincent Biruta.
By OMA Newsletter No. 670 of 15/04/2022
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
Promoting and Consolidating Africa’s Development, and Inter-African Integration
