Kigali: Rwanda has openly contested the U.N. refugee agency’s claims, accusing it of falsehoods in a British court regarding the potential fate of asylum seekers sent to Rwanda. The UNHCR had expressed concerns that individuals could be subjected to refoulement, a practice of moving asylum seekers to countries where they face serious threats to their life or freedom.
During a legal challenge against the UK government’s deportation policy, UNHCR lawyers criticized Rwanda’s asylum system as inadequate. They argued that deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda could lead to their subsequent transfer to countries where they may endure torture or death, referencing past evidence that influenced the UK Supreme Court’s decision last year deeming the British plan unlawful.
Rwanda’s government spokesperson vehemently denied these allegations, stating late Tuesday, “UNHCR is lying.” The spokesperson condemned what they described as deliberate dissemination of false claims about Rwanda’s treatment of asylum seekers, despite ongoing collaboration with the UNHCR to relocate African migrants from Libya.
The Rwandan government clarified that cases mentioned by UNHCR lawyers involved individuals who either had legal status elsewhere but failed to meet Rwanda’s entry criteria or those who left Rwanda voluntarily.
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Amidst this controversy, Britain announced intentions for the inaugural flight to Rwanda on July 24, contingent on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party victory in the national elections scheduled for July 4. However, with the opposition Labour Party leading in polls and vowing to cancel the deportation plan if elected, the future of this policy remains uncertain.
