Rwanda on Tuesday said it had taken note of British government intention to terminate a treaty signed with the former government to enable London send asylum seekers to the East African country.
The previous UK Conservative government and Rwanda had signed the agreement in December in Kigali, the Rwandan capital.
The signing of the agreement is to facilitate the sending of some migrants who arrived in the UK across the English Channel to Rwanda, where their asylum claims would be processed.
The new British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, in his first news conference said he would not continue with the previous government’s policy to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda.
He described it as “gimmicks that don’t act as a deterrent.”
In a statement, Rwanda said it fully upheld its side of the deal.
“Rwanda has fully upheld its side of the agreement, including regards to finances, and remains committed to finding solutions to the global migration crisis.
“lncluding providing safety, dignity and opportunity to refugees and migrants who come to our country,” said the statement issued by the office of the Rwandan government spokesperson.
Britain had offered an upfront investment of 120 million pounds (about 149.5 million U.S. dollars) for the Rwanda-UK Migration and Economic Development Partnership initiative, which had faced legal challenges in Britain, well before the victory of the Labour Party in the July 4, elections.(Xinhua/NAN)
