Migration agreement with Rwanda: an official visit to Kigali that challenges Great Britain

British Home Secretary Suella Braverman meets with members of the Norrsken Foundation during her visit to Kigali. REUTERS - STRINGER

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The British Home Secretary has just returned from an official visit to Rwanda on 18 and 19 March 2023. Suella Braverman met with Rwandan authorities to discuss the migration agreement between the two nations that dates back almost a year. A trip that challenges Great Britain.

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With our correspondent in London, Emeline Vin

This is the British government's big plan: to outsource its asylum system to Rwanda. The agreement between the two countries dates from almost a year ago, from April 2022.

London wants to send all asylum seekers by charter flight, to Kigali, which would examine their application. No possibility, therefore, to settle and build a life in Britain.

A widely criticised agreement

This agreement is widely criticized, already because Rwanda does not have the best record in terms of respect for minorities and political opponents. However, asylum seekers have sometimes left their countries precisely to escape this kind of persecution.

Secondly, the United Kingdom is accused of shirking its responsibilities and its duty to welcome.

The project was challenged in court and eleven months later, still no migrants have been sent to Rwanda.

► READ ALSO: The British justice considers legal the project to deport migrants to Rwanda

A trip as an "after-sales service"

This trip is also a way to reassure the right wing of voters. It is also a way to send the message to the other end of the political spectrum that this is a good deal.

► Read also The British Home Secretary in Rwanda to strengthen the migration agreement

During her visit, Suella Braverman met successful refugees who praised Rwanda's welcoming qualities. The Minister of the Interior visited the residences that should accommodate the migrants sent by London and found them so well done that she jokingly asked the name of the interior decorator...

The United Kingdom has already paid more than 150 million euros to Kigali for preparedness, infrastructure... The minister assures that the first flights will take place in June.

British journalists selected for this press trip

Finally, Suella Braverman's journey was shrouded in mystery. Little upstream (and downstream) communication. But, most importantly, the ministry sorted out the media authorized to accompany Braverman to Kigali. Excluded from the lot: the BBC, The Guardian, The Mirror and The Independent, rather left-wing or liberal media. Only newspapers deemed right-wing were taken to Rwanda.

For the Guardian, this taxpayer-funded trip escapes critical scrutiny, perhaps from the perspective of not accountability.

Several independent journalists confirm that the practice is not usual for this type of trip. A former White House correspondent even points out that it reminds him of the Donald Trump years, when the most critical headlines were excluded from press conferences.

This organization raises questions of transparency and freedom of the press, while when he came to power, the new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised a government of "responsibility and accountability".

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Read on on the same topics:

• Rwanda
• United Kingdom