RWANDA | Kigali not happy with British Court decision on London's Migration Plan

KIGALI,  Rwanda, November 15, 2023 -  Rwanda has taken issue with the British Supreme Court in its decision to strike down the British Government’s  plan to send migrants to the East African country on the basis that it may not be a safe destination for asylum seekers.

"So Rwanda accepts, respects this decision, but it does not agree with the point which states that refugees or migrants sent to Rwanda would be unsafe,” said Rwandan government deputy spokesperson Alain Mukuralinda.

Kigali said it was "committed to its international obligations" and its "exemplary treatment of refugees" had been recognised by the UN refugee agency and other bodies.

However, Rwandan opposition Green Party leader Frank Habineza welcomed the court's decision, saying Britain should not have tried to shift its obligations elsewhere.

A five-judge panel rejected the controversial policy, upholding a lower court judgement that sending undocumented migrants to Rwanda was unlawful and put the rights of asylum seekers afforded by international law at "real risk".

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Rwandan President Paul Kagame spoke on Wednesday and reiterated their commitment to make their migration partnership work, Sunak’s office said after a UK Supreme Court ruling that the policy was unlawful.

“Both leaders reiterated their firm commitment to making our migration partnership work and agreed to take the necessary steps to ensure this is a robust and lawful policy and to stop the boats as soon as possible,” a spokesperson for Sunak’s office said following the call.

Sunak's government had argued the scheme was crucial to reducing "illegal" migration across the Channel, and had appealed the lower court decision.

Following the judgement, Sunak said his government was already working on a new treaty with Rwanda.

"If the English government is ready to propose another agreement, of course it will be carefully studied in relation to what happened in court,” said Mukuralinda.