Britain and Rwanda are again trying to justify their highly controversial migration agreement. This Monday, Priti Patel, British Minister of the Interior, and Vincent Biruta, the head of Rwandan diplomacy, signed a joint platform in the columns of the Times to defend their project again
Priti Patel and Vincent Biruta affirm it in the columns of the British daily. This partnership unpublished will be a milestone and could serve as a model in other countries. Planning to send illegal migrants arriving in Britain to Rwanda while their asylum applications are being considered, the project caused an outcry.
In this podiumthe two ministers consider that the smuggling of migrants “ can’t last “, that the criminals ” operate the system “thousands of people push” to undertake dangerous journeys “, with ” devastating consequences for many men, women and children “.
” A bold, innovative step »
Priti Patel and Vincent Biruta think together theagreement signed Thursday will provide ” legal, secure, organized and controlled means to improve people’s lives “. For this he will fight at the root » the migration problem in « disrupting the business model of organized crime gangs, and deterring migrants from putting their lives at risk “.
As for Rwanda, criticized for its human rights abusesthe platform boasts on the contrary of its humanism, its strong tradition home for the most vulnerable, ranking it among the safest countries in the world.
The text does not give more details on the criteria for selecting migrants who will be sent to Rwanda, or on possible quotas. But the forum already believes that this partnership constitutes “ a bold, innovative step which could inspire others. As for those who criticize the project“ they fail to offer their own solutions “, believe Priti Patel and Vincent Biruta.
► Also to listen: United Kingdom – Rwanda agreement: “A deliberate desire to deter immigration”