KIGALI: Rwanda said the United Nations refugee agency had lied when it told a UK court this week that asylum seekers sent to the East African country could be moved on again to states where they risked torture or death.
The dispute arose following statements presented by lawyers representing the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in a British court, challenging the British government’s policy of deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda.
According to the UNHCR’s legal representatives, Rwanda’s asylum system was deemed inadequate, raising concerns about the potential for asylum seekers to be subjected to a process known as refoulement, where people are forcibly returned to countries where they face persecution or harm. These claims were underscored by past evidence, which played a key role in the British Supreme Court’s decision to deem the British deportation plan unlawful last year.
Responding to these allegations, Rwanda’s government issued a categorical denial, accusing the UNHCR of disseminating falsehoods to British courts regarding the treatment of asylum seekers in Rwanda. In a statement, a government spokesperson asserted that the UN agency’s claims were fabricated, emphasizing Rwanda’s commitment to partnering with the UNHCR to ensure the safety and protection of African migrants, particularly those seeking refuge from Libya.
In its defense, the UNHCR reiterated its longstanding concerns regarding the risks associated with “externalization” policies, including the potential for refoulement. However, the agency declined to provide further commentary citing ongoing legal proceedings related to the matter.
Rwanda’s government sought to clarify the circumstances surrounding the cases referenced by the UNHCR’s lawyers, highlighting that they primarily involved individuals with legal status in other countries who failed to meet Rwanda’s entry requirements or those who left voluntarily.
Meanwhile, Britain announced plans for the inaugural flight of asylum seekers to Rwanda, scheduled for July 24. However, the realization of this plan hinges on the outcome of the upcoming general elections on July 4, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives facing an uphill battle against the opposition Labour Party, which leads by a significant margin in opinion polls. Labour has vowed to scrap the deportation plan if elected.
