Category: Rwanda

UK Government Sets Date of First Deportation Flight to Rwanda

British Home Secretary Priti Patel said she will “not be deterred” in her plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda as the Home Office announced the date—June 14—for the first flight. In April Patel unveiled plans to transfer dozens of people whose applications for asylum are awaiting processing to the African country. The policy was…


Illegal Immigrants in UK to Receive 1st Rwanda Relocation Notification This Week

The UK government will start informing some illegal immigrants this week of its intention to relocate them to Rwanda, the Home Office confirmed on Tuesday. The recipients will be warned that they may not be admitted to the UK’s asylum system because they had “travelled through safe countries where they could and should have claimed…


Boris Johnson Vows to Send Illegal Immigrants to Rwanda Despite Legal Challenge

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday defended his plan to relocate illegal immigrants to Rwanda amid legal challenges to the policy, saying it’s “humane, compassionate, and sensible.” The prime minister said he knew “liberal lawyers” would try to “make this difficult,” before promising “we will get it done.” Under the new £120 million deal with…


Chinese Man Gets 20 Years in Rwanda for Whipping a Local Man

KIGALI, Rwanda—A court in Rwanda sentenced a Chinese businessman to 20 years in prison for torture after he was filmed beating a local man last year. Sun Shujun had been accused of beating his workers in a case that drew attention because he was filmed whipping a man tethered to a pole on the ground….


Denmark in Talks With Rwanda on Transfer of Asylum-Seekers

COPENHAGEN—Denmark is in talks with Rwanda about setting up a new procedure for transferring asylum seekers to the East African nation, mirroring a similar move by Britain announced last week. A deal with Rwanda would make Denmark the first European Union member to effectively bypass the bloc’s fragmented migration and asylum system. “Our dialogue with…


UK Government Defends Plan to Send Illegal Immigrants to Rwanda

The UK government has defended its plan to send illegal immigrants to the African country of Rwanda after it was criticised by a senior church leader. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on April 14 that people who enter the UK illegally, including those who cross the English Channel in small boats, may end up being…


UK to Send Illegal Immigrants to Rwanda to Deter Human Smuggling

People who enter the UK illegally may end up being relocated to the African country of Rwanda, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced. An initial £120 million ($157 million) is expected to be given to the Rwandan government under a trial scheme, with Home Secretary Priti Patel striking a deal during a visit to…


‘Hotel Rwanda’ Hero Sentenced to 25 Years on Terror Charges

KIGALI, Rwanda—The man who inspired the film “Hotel Rwanda” for saving hundreds of his countrymen from genocide was convicted of terrorism offenses Monday and sentenced to 25 years at a trial that human rights watchdogs and other critics of Rwanda’s repressive government have described as an act of retaliation. Paul Rusesabagina, credited with sheltering ethnic…


France’s Macron Admits Some Guilt for Rwanda’s Genocide

KIGALI, Rwanda—In a key speech on his visit to Rwanda, French President Emmanuel Macron said he recognizes that France bears a heavy responsibility for the 1994 genocide in the central African country. Macron solemnly detailed how France had failed the 800,000 victims of the genocide but he stopped short of an apology. France “was not…