Rwanda has responded to the new UK Government’s intention to terminate the Migration and Economic Development Partnership Agreement, a decision in line with the terms ratified by both nations’ parliaments.
This partnership, initiated by the UK Government, aimed to address the UK’s irregular migration crisis — a problem the UK, not Rwanda, faced.
In a statement release on Monday, Rwanda asserts that it has upheld its obligations under the agreement, including financial commitments.
“The Rwanda scheme was dead and buried before it started. It’s never been a deterrent,” stated Keir Starmer, the UK’s new Prime Minister, at his first news conference following Labour’s landslide victory in the general election.
“I’m not prepared to continue with gimmicks that don’t act as a deterrent,” Starmer emphasized, describing the plan as a “problem that we are inheriting.”
Rwanda says it remains committed to finding solutions to the global migration crisis, providing safety, dignity, and opportunity to refugees and migrants who “come to our country.”
Rights advocates have welcomed Starmer’s move as long overdue, marking a significant change in the UK’s approach to handling irregular migration.
