In a forum, London and Kigali defend their agreement on immigration

British Interior Minister Priti Patel and Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta after signing an agreement in Kigali on April 14, 2022. AFP - SIMON WOHLFAHRT

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

Britain and Rwanda are again trying to justify their highly controversial migration agreement.

This Monday, Priti Patel, British Minister of the Interior, and Vincent Biruta, the head of Rwandan diplomacy, signed a joint platform in the columns of the Times to defend their project again

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Priti Patel and Vincent Biruta affirm it in the columns of the British daily.

This “ unprecedented 

” partnership 

will mark a milestone and could serve as a model in other countries.

Planning to send illegal migrants arriving in Britain to Rwanda while their asylum applications are being considered,

the plan has sparked an outcry.

In this forum

, the two ministers believe that migrant smuggling " 

cannot continue

 ", that criminals " 

exploit the system

 ", push thousands of people " 

to undertake dangerous journeys 

", with " 

devastating consequences for a large number of men, women and children

 .

A bold, innovative step

 ”

Priti Patel and Vincent Biruta believe that the

agreement signed Thursday

will provide " 

legal, secure, organized and controlled means to improve people's lives

 ".

To do this, he will fight " 

at the root 

" of the migration problem by " 

disrupting the economic model of organized crime gangs, and by dissuading migrants from putting their lives in danger

 ".

As for Rwanda, criticized for its

violations of human rights

, the forum praises on the contrary its humanism, its " 

strong tradition

 " of welcoming the most vulnerable, its ranking among the safest countries in the world.

The text does not give more details on the criteria for selecting migrants who will be sent to Rwanda, or on possible quotas.

But the forum already believes that this partnership is " 

a bold, innovative step

 " that could inspire others.

As for those who criticize the project

, " 

they fail to offer their own solutions

 ", believe Priti Patel and Vincent Biruta.

► Also to listen: United Kingdom – Rwanda agreement: “A deliberate desire to deter immigration”

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