The newly established Labour government in the United Kingdom has swiftly terminated the controversial migration agreement with Rwanda. This accord faced significant criticism from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Despite this setback, Kigali, which already hosts approximately 100,000 refugees, maintains that it is not obliged to return the nearly 300 million euros received from London. Moreover, Rwanda is willing to engage with other countries on similar agreements.
Alain Mukuralinda, Deputy Spokesperson for the Rwandan government, emphasized Kigali’s ongoing commitment to addressing the migration crisis. “We are always ready to explore other solutions that could save human lives. As long as drownings continue and there are no other viable options, the Rwandan government remains open to alternative approaches to resolve this issue,” he stated.
Previously, Denmark had shown interest in establishing a similar agreement with Kigali. However, according to Mukuralinda, these negotiations are currently on hold. “Today, there are no other discussions underway. But as you know, before the United Kingdom, there were other Nordic countries interested.
However, no discussions are ongoing today,” he clarified. He further added that Rwanda would not dismiss potential requests from other countries. “It is clear and unequivocal; our philosophy remains unchanged,” he asserted.
Although the bilateral agreement was annulled by London before the arrival of the first migrants, Mukuralinda affirmed that Rwanda is under no obligation to refund the more than 300 million euros already paid by the United Kingdom, which has been used for the construction of reception infrastructure. Consequently, the government remains open to discussions regarding potential new agreements.
In summary, Rwanda stands ready to continue its role in addressing global migration challenges, willing to collaborate with nations seeking solutions to the ongoing crisis. The termination of the UK agreement does not deter Kigali from its commitment to saving lives and managing migration effectively.