British Interior Minister Suella Braverman is on an official visit to Kigali this Saturday and Sunday 19 March. Almost a year after the signing of the nearly €160 million refugee deal between Rwanda and the UK, the aim is to renew London’s commitment to this partnership. It is intended to send to Rwanda a certain number of asylum seekers who arrived illegally on British territory.
With our correspondent in Kigali, Lucie Mouillaud
This is the first official visit to Kigali by a member of the British government since the election of the conservative Rishi Sunak last October. The opportunity for the Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vincent Biruta, to reiterate his commitment to the United Kingdom.
“ We just finished a meeting where we discussed our partnership on migration and economic development. This innovative partnership represents an important development in our efforts to address irregular immigration. And we are happy to work closely with the UK on this. »
In Kigali, the British Interior Minister visited new residences, intended to accommodate refugees sent to Rwanda by the United Kingdom. The agreement between the two countries, declared legal by the British High Court in December, is still being challenged in court by a group of asylum seekers. But according to Suella Braverman, the UK hopes to implement its partnership with Rwanda as soon as possible.
” Today we signed an addendum to our agreement that extends support measures for people who will be relocated to Rwanda. There is a global migration crisis, and I sincerely believe that this leading partnership between two allies and two friends will lead the way. »
A hearing is scheduled for mid-April to study the procedure launched in the Court of Appeal against this agreement, still denounced by many organizations defense of human rights.