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UK Home Secretary James Cleverly at the Kigali Genocide Memorial during his visit to sign a new treaty with Rwanda on December 5, 2023 in Kigali, Rwanda.
In a move to sidestep a recent court decision impeding the controversial policy of deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda, British Home Secretary James Cleverly inked a pivotal treaty with the East African nation on Tuesday. The United Kingdom’s Supreme Court had previously deemed the deportation plan a violation of international human rights laws.
The Rwandan initiative holds the key to the government’s overarching strategy to curtail migration, a development closely monitored by other nations contemplating similar measures. In response to the Supreme Court’s ruling, the UK sought to renegotiate its agreement with Rwanda, aiming for a binding treaty that addressed the court’s concerns about the expulsion of asylum seekers.
Kigali Capital City of Rwanda
James Cleverly, who arrived in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, engaged in discussions with the country’s Foreign Minister, Vincent Biruta, ultimately sealing the agreement. Cleverly asserted that the treaty comprehensively tackled the issues raised by the Supreme Court, eliminating any credible reasons for obstructing deportation flights. Notably, no additional funds were allocated to Rwanda beyond the existing memorandum of understanding.
“I really hope that we can now move quickly,” Cleverly emphasized during a press conference in Kigali.
The deportation plan involves sending thousands of asylum seekers, who arrived in the UK without permission, to Rwanda as a deterrent against Channel crossings from Europe in small boats. In exchange, Rwanda has received an initial payment of £140 million ($180 million), with promises of additional funding to support the accommodation and care of deported individuals.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, facing intense pressure to reduce net migration, currently at a record 745,000 last year, seeks to staunch the flow of asylum seekers resorting to people smugglers for perilous Channel crossings. Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick justified the government’s actions, emphasizing that those arriving on small boats were essentially breaking into the country.
SKJ