The British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame and discussed UK-Rwanda migration partnership
“They discussed the UK-Rwanda migration partnership and their joint efforts to break the business model of criminal people smugglers and address humanitarian issues”, the British Prime Minister’s office said in a statement.
The two leaders committed to continue working together to ensure this important partnership is delivered successfully.
The Prime Minister and President Kagame also discussed the concerning escalation in violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo and international efforts to support a lasting peaceful resolution.
The UK and Rwanda agreed a Migration and Economic Development Partnership in April 2022. It includes a five-year ‘asylum partnership arrangement’ as detailed in a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the UK Home Secretary and Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
A group of NGOs, asylum seekers and a civil service trade union had questioned the legality of the scheme, which would see asylum seekers deemed to have entered the UK illegally sent to Rwanda to have their asylum claims processed. The court deemed the British government is able to make those arrangements. (End)