Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ The Rwandan government remains committed to the agreement with London regarding the deportation of illegal migrants from Britain to Rwanda, despite a ruling by British courts declaring the deal “illegal.” Despite the legal setback, Rwanda intends to honor the agreement, signalling its determination to cooperate with the UK on immigration matters.
Yolande Makolo, the spokesperson for the Rwandan government, asserts that although the ultimate decision rests with the British courts, Rwanda disputes the claim that it is an unsafe destination for refugees and asylum seekers. The ruling has disappointed both the Rwandan and British governments, as they were supportive of the agreement. This suggests that both parties believed Rwanda to be a suitable option for handling the issue of illegal migrants, despite the court’s differing opinion.
However, the decision brings relief to organizations like Asylum Aid, which challenged the British government’s Rwanda policy. Alison Pickup, the Director of Asylum Aid, expressed satisfaction with the ruling, stating that their clients were afraid of being sent to Rwanda, a country they were unfamiliar with and where they had no connections. The ruling provides a sense of relief and ends the uncertainty faced by these individuals, who had already experienced significant trauma throughout their journey.
The plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda was initially announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson as an effort to discourage illegal crossings of the English Channel. However, no deportations have occurred yet, as the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) called for a comprehensive review of the policy, leading to the cancellation of the first scheduled flight in June 2022.
Following the Court of Appeal’s ruling, the British government intends to refer the matter to the Supreme Court for further consideration.
