In a virtual address to the Global Security Forum in Qatar, Rwandan President Paul Kagame defended his country’s track record in assisting refugees.
Critics, including human rights activists, have voiced concerns over a new British law that will compensate Kigali for receiving illegal asylum seekers deported from the United Kingdom.
Kagame addressed the issue by highlighting Rwanda’s longstanding involvement in assisting migrants.
He emphasized that Rwanda’s role in providing assistance to migrants predates the recent deal with the UK.
Kagame mentioned ongoing efforts to support migrants stranded in Libya and those attempting to cross the Mediterranean into Europe.
According to Kagame, Rwanda has been offering a “safe haven” to migrants since 2018, providing them with support or facilitating their transit to their desired destinations.
“At that time, we had no agreement with anyone, so there wasn’t even anyone going to pay for it except ourselves. But people worked for migration institutions, international institutions, or UNHCR and so on,” he stated.
“Since 2018, hundreds and thousands of people have been brought by air from Libya to Rwanda. This is what the UK, I think noticed. That there was another way of dealing with this problem,” he remarked.
Britain’s parliament approved the new legislation to relocate certain migrants to Rwanda in April, paving the way for flights during the European summer.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s contentious initiative aims to discourage perilous English Channel crossings by individuals seeking to reach the UK.
Despite opposition from human rights activists and migrants’ groups, who denounce the policy as unethical and inhumane, the forum concluded on Wednesday after delegates deliberated on topics including supply chain management, energy security, high-end semiconductors, and food security.
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