Rwanda has vehemently denied allegations that it is endangering the lives of asylum seekers, accusing the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) of concocting claims aimed at undermining the country’s welcoming policy. The accusations follow a warning from the UN Refugee Agency to British judges, asserting it has fresh evidence from 2024 indicating that Rwanda has endangered asylum seekers, despite the British Parliament declaring the East African nation safe.
The UNHCR informed the British High Court on Monday that it is investigating new allegations of abuses, including instances where individuals may have been sent to countries where they faced the risk of torture. In a significant move, a judge has granted the UN agency permission to compile a detailed dossier before any flight of asylum seekers can depart from the United Kingdom.
In a statement issued late Tuesday, the office of the Rwandan government spokesperson lashed out at the UNHCR, asserting that the “UNHCR is lying.”
“The organisation seems intent on presenting fabricated allegations to UK courts about the country’s treatment of asylum seekers, while still partnering with us to bring African migrants from Libya to safety in Rwanda through the emergency transit mechanism,” the statement read.
The statement pointed to a specific case referenced by the UNHCR, involving a man who was denied asylum in the Seychelles. According to Rwanda, the UNHCR in South Africa unilaterally decided that he should be granted asylum in Rwanda without consulting the Rwandan government.
“As we have said time and again, Rwanda does not refoule asylum seekers. The UNHCR seems intent on undermining the safety of Rwanda within UK courts,” the statement continued.
Rwanda reaffirmed its commitment to upholding all obligations as a signatory to the Refugee Convention. “We will continue to provide safety and opportunity to those fleeing conflict.”
The controversy comes in the wake of a deal struck between Britain and Rwanda in April 2022, which allows for the transfer of some migrants who arrive in the UK across the English Channel to Rwanda, where their asylum claims would be processed. In April, UK lawmakers passed the Safety of Rwanda Bill, thereby facilitating the relocation of asylum seekers who arrive without permission to the East African country.
The latest allegations and the ongoing court proceedings have added a new layer of complexity to the already contentious UK-Rwanda migration partnership. The international community continues to closely monitor the developments as both Rwanda and the UNHCR stand firm in their respective positions.
