Rwanda Reacts to UK’s Decision to End Deportation Scheme
Rwanda’s government has confirmed its awareness of the United Kingdom’s plan to terminate the controversial deportation scheme for asylum seekers. In a statement released recently, the Rwandan government emphasized that the deal was initiated by the UK to address its own migration crisis, not Rwanda’s.
This marks the first official response from Rwandan authorities regarding the UK’s new Labour Party government’s decision to cancel the deportation scheme. The scheme had faced criticism from human rights organizations for being inhumane.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, during a news conference, described the deportation plan as a “gimmick” that was already doomed to fail. Despite significant financial investment, the scheme did not achieve its intended purpose of deterring migrants.
At this point, it remains unclear whether the Rwandan government received official notification from the UK about the termination of the agreement. However, the Rwandan statement asserts that they have fulfilled all their obligations, including financial commitments.