Rwanda is in talks with the Trump administration, which will take on immigrants who have been deported from the US, the foreign ministers of Central African countries said late Sunday.
It was unclear whether the deal would involve migrants who had already been deported or future migrants, but it is possible to obtain such consent with the United States that could have made Rwanda the first African country in any agreement.
Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier JP Nduhungirehe said on Sunday that his government was in the “early stage” of receiving deportees from the US from the country.
“It's true that we're talking with the US,” Nduhungirehe said in an interview with state broadcaster Rwanda TV. “These talks are still ongoing and it is too early to conclude how they will unfold,” he added.
The Rwandan government did not respond to a request for comment.
A State Department spokesman refused to discuss the details of the consultation, but said “continued involvement with foreign governments is essential to prevent illegal and mass migration and to secure borders.”
Rwanda has established itself as a partner in the West trying to curb immigration, providing asylum to migrants and awaiting resettlement elsewhere. Nduhungirehe did not say whether Rwanda will be paid for the contract.
Critics say it's not safe to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, citing the country's poor record of human rights, its limited resources, and previous intimidation and surveillance of migrant and refugee authorities.
The Trump administration has implemented many hardline tactics to curb migration, including deporting individuals on well-published flights. Trump evoked centuries-old laws in March to send suspected scores of gang members from Venezuela to El Salvador, even if federal judges tried to halt flights. Washington is looking for more countries that will happily accept those exiled from the United States.
The Trump administration has also urged countries to reclaim their own citizens deported from the United States, and has taken punitive measures against those who refuse to do so. In early April, Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked visas for all South Sudanian citizens amidst the conflict that the East African country failed to accept deported migrants.
If Rwanda agrees to a deal with the Trump administration, it will be the latest African country to embrace immigration.
Small landlocked countries await resettlement in Libya's hundreds of African refugees in a joint partnership with the United Nations refugee agency. He has also signed a contract with Denmark to improve cooperation on asylum and immigration, and has entered into a secret partnership with Israel to receive deported African migrants.
Rwanda has agreed to a contract with the UK in 2022 to receive asylum seekers from a third country in a controversial plan deemed illegal by the UK Supreme Court. Last year, the UK government negated the court's decision and passed a law to declare Rwanda a “safe country.”
Only four people voluntarily left for Rwanda under the plan, and when the Conservatives lost the general election last July, Prime Minister Kiel's new labour government abolished the contract. The programme will go to Rwanda with £715 million, or about $949 million, with about £290 million. The Rwandan government has said it will not repay the money.
The debate between Rwanda and the United States was first reported by Handbasket and coincided with US efforts to mediate peace deals in the war between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Handbasket and Reuters news agency also reported that the US had deported Iraqi refugee Omar Abdulsattar Ameen to Rwanda. Nduhungirehe did not mention the incident in an interview on Rwanda TV.
Arafat Mugabo contributed the report.
