In a meeting held at the official residence of UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in London on Tuesday, Sunak and Rwandan President Paul Kagame reaffirmed their intentions to initiate the deportation of undocumented migrants from Britain to Rwanda, despite mounting questions and controversies surrounding the scheme.
The meeting between the two leaders coincided with the release of a report by a British newspaper, which highlighted concerns over properties designated for the deported migrants in Kigali allegedly being sold to local buyers instead.
According to a government spokesperson, Sunak briefed President Kagame on the legislative progress in the UK Parliament regarding the deportation plan, emphasizing the forthcoming stages of the legislation. The spokesperson also indicated that both leaders anticipate the commencement of flights to Rwanda in the spring.
The deportation initiative, championed by Sunak, is a pivotal component of the UK’s strategy to address the influx of asylum seekers crossing the Channel from France, often in perilous conditions aboard small boats.
The proposed law has encountered significant opposition and legal challenges since its inception in 2022 under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s administration. Sunak introduced emergency legislation following a Supreme Court ruling that deemed the deportation of asylum seekers to Rwanda unlawful under international law.
The legislation aims to designate Rwanda as a safe third country, compelling judges to treat it as such, and granting UK ministers the authority to bypass certain provisions of international and British human rights laws.
Amidst the ongoing legislative process, characterized by parliamentary “ping-pong” between the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the Commons is set to review the latest amendments proposed by the Lords on April 15.
Despite assurances from Sunak’s government, reports surfaced alleging that a significant portion of the housing units earmarked for the deported migrants in Kigali had already been sold, leaving limited space for incoming asylum seekers. However, a spokesperson for the Rwandan government disputed these claims, stating that the housing estate in question is just one of several projects where migrants would be integrated into Rwandan communities.
Sunak’s deportation strategy is viewed as a key political move aimed at mitigating challenges from the opposition Labour Party in the upcoming general election, slated for later this year.
