A Critical Examination of UK’s Decision to Abandon Rwanda Asylum Transfer Plan

Abandon Rwanda Asylum Transfer Plan: New Report Documents Rwanda’s Global Targeting of Rwandan Refugees, Critics

Background

The recently published report by Human Rights Watch has shed light on the alarming situation in Rwanda, where authorities and their proxies are resorting to violence, judicial mechanisms, and intimidation to silence criticism from Rwandans living abroad. The report, titled “‘Join Us or Die’: Rwanda’s Extraterritorial Repression,” highlights a systematic pattern of repression aimed at muzzling dissenting voices and intimidating critics. This includes targeting Rwandans who have sought international protection. The UK, in particular, is urged to abandon its asylum transfer deal with Rwanda and take steps to enhance the protection of Rwandan residents and refugees within its borders.

The Global Ecosystem of Repression

Human Rights Watch’s report documents a wide range of tactics employed by Rwandan authorities, which collectively form a global ecosystem of repression. These tactics include physical violence, such as killings and enforced disappearances, surveillance, misuse of law enforcement, abuses against relatives in Rwanda, and online harassment used to damage people’s reputation. The combination of these tactics is clearly intended to isolate and silence potential critics.

The report’s findings underscore the fact that Rwanda cannot be relied upon to uphold international standards or the rule of law, particularly when it comes to protecting asylum seekers. The UK government’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda is not only unlawful, but it also undermines the UK‘s reputation as a country that stands up for human rights.

The UK–Rwanda Asylum Transfer Plan

In April 2022, the UK and Rwandan governments announced the signing of a new Asylum Partnership Arrangement, which allows the UK to expel people seeking asylum in the UK to Rwanda. However, the UK Court of Appeal ruled in June that this asylum deal is unlawful because it exposes asylum seekers to the risk of being sent back to their home countries, where they may face mistreatment. Human Rights Watch’s investigation reveals that Rwandans living in the UK, who have already faced threats, have had to take extreme measures to ensure their security. Some individuals interviewed expressed concern that their safety may no longer be a priority for the UK government due to the asylum transfer plan.

The UK‘s Reluctance to Condemn Human Rights Abuses

Since the announcement of the asylum transfer plan, the UK has been reluctant to criticize Rwanda for its domestic and extraterritorial human rights abuses. This reluctance has drawn criticism from various quarters, including former foreign minister Justine Greening, who argued that the asylum deal risks downgrading UK foreign policy.

Human Rights Watch interviewed over 150 individuals across the globe, documenting the tactics used by Rwandan authorities and their proxies to target Rwandans living abroad. These abuses were witnessed in countries such as Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The report reveals numerous cases of killings, kidnappings or attempted kidnappings, enforced disappearances, and physical attacks targeting Rwandans living abroad.

Rwandan authorities have also sought to exploit global police cooperation, including Interpol Red Notices, judicial mechanisms, and extradition requests to forcibly deport critics or dissidents back to Rwanda. Many individuals interviewed revealed that their relatives in Rwanda had been subjected to arbitrary detention, torture, harassment, and restrictions on movement as a means to pressure, punish, or silence their family members living abroad. These actions serve to protect Rwanda‘s image, suppress dissent, and send a chilling message to critics within the country.

Implications and Recommendations

The report’s findings make it clear that Rwanda is not a safe country for the UK to send asylum seekers. The UK government’s reliance on Rwanda as a “safe third country” is untenable given the brazen targeting of refugees, asylum seekers, and diaspora members by Rwandan authorities. The UK should abandon its cruel asylum plan and reassess its commitment to upholding human rights.

It is crucial that the UK takes concrete actions to enhance the protection of Rwandan residents and refugees within its borders. This should include providing support and resources to individuals who have received threats or experienced intimidation. Furthermore, the UK should use its influence to condemn human rights abuses in Rwanda and work towards promoting accountability and respect for human rights.

The international community also has a responsibility to closely scrutinize the situation in Rwanda and hold the authorities accountable for their actions. Cooperation between countries must be based on a commitment to upholding human rights, and any deals or agreements that compromise these principles should be reconsidered.

Overall, the revelations in Human Rights Watch’s report should serve as a wake-up call for the UK and other countries involved in asylum transfer plans with Rwanda. The protection of individuals and the promotion of human rights must be prioritized over political expediency.

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