UK, Rwanda sign new deal on controversial asylum plan

UPDATES WITH STATEMENTS FROM RWANDAN GOVERNMENT, OPPOSITION PARTY

By Burak Bir and James Tasamba

LONDON/ KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - In a bid to address UK Supreme Court concerns, Britain and the East African country of Rwanda on Tuesday signed a new deal on a reworked asylum scheme.

The new treaty was signed by UK Home Secretary James Cleverly and Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta in order to address concerns of the UK Supreme Court, which last month ruled that the government's original plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda was unlawful.

"I said I would stop the (migrant) boats. I meant it. We've signed a treaty with Rwanda making it clear that it's us who decides who comes to this country – not criminal gangs," UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Tuesday on X.

The Home Office said in a statement that the new deal serves to "directly address" the recent judgment of the UK Supreme Court.

"Our landmark treaty with Rwanda makes it clear – we will do whatever it takes to stop the boats," Cleverly said on X.

Under the new treaty, relocated individuals will be given safety and support and will not be returned to an unsafe third country.

"Rwanda’s asylum system will be strengthened through a new Appeal Body to consider individual appeals and the foundation will be laid to introduce new legislation to allow parliament to consider Rwanda as safe," added the Home Office.

In January, campaigners and asylum seekers won a legal challenge to the Rwanda plan as the Court of Appeal ruled that the deportation scheme was unlawful.

The plan has been one of the most controversial planks of the government's migration policy, as it sparked international criticism and mass protests across the UK.

The plan, signed in April 2022 by then-UK Home Secretary Priti Patel and Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta, proposed sending asylum seekers trying to enter the UK to Rwanda for resettlement.

Tackling small boat crossings by irregular migrants across the British Channel is among five priorities of the British government, as more than 45,000 migrants arrived in the country that way last year.

In a statement, the Rwandan government said it believes the new treaty provides the necessary assurances that will allow the partnership to move forward.

“This partnership also reflects Rwanda’s commitment to protecting vulnerable people. We have a proven record of offering a home to migrants and refugees from around the world,” it said.

But the opposition Democratic Green Party of Rwanda maintains that while it supports welcoming refugees who have chosen Rwanda as their first destination it should not apply to those who chose to go to the UK or other European countries.

Frank Habineza, the party’s president and lawmaker, insisted that rich countries including the UK should bear their international obligation to receive refugees and not transfer them to third countries.

While in Rwanda, UK Home Secretary James Cleverly visited the Kigali genocide memorial to pay tribute to victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi ethnic group.