Rwanda-UK: "The political judgments made today were unjustified" OGS

While disappointed with the outcome, both leaders will take the necessary steps to ensure they stop the boats.

"While UK Prime Minister, Rish Sunak welcomed the court's confirmation that the principle of sending illegal migrants to a safe third country is lawful, he expressed his disappointment at the overall outcome and recognized that there are challenges they must overcome, " the UK Statement said.

He thanked President Kagame for his government's work over 15 months and extra assurances they have already agreed as both leaders will continue to work together to address the court's concerns.

They reiterate their firm commitment to making migration partnership work and agreed to take the necessary steps to ensure that it is a robust and lawful policy and to stop the boats as soon as possible.

Today,  the UK Supreme Court has taken a decision against sending asylum seekers and refugees. The court said that Rwanda is not a safe country for them. Given Rwanda’s welcoming policy and the record of caring for refugees, "the political judgments made today were unjustified", OGS said.

The examples raised in court to support the ruling were insensitive to violations of international humanitarian law ongoing in many parts of the world. The court relied on extreme and speculative concerns based on the hypocritical criticisms of the UNHCR, which has on numerous occasions expressed its appreciation of Rwanda’s inclusive refugee policies, qualifying them as ‘exemplary’.

For example, their claim of “100% rejection rate” of asylum seekers from some parts of the world is dishonest – a total of two individuals from Syria and Yemen were indeed not considered for asylum because there was a faster and more appropriate path to legal residence, and these individuals are currently living and working in Rwanda. 

Also, the Government of Rwanda said that was ended an earlier agreement with Israel to receive migrants after it was deemed unworkable.

Rwanda will now focus on working with the UK on a binding treaty to re-emphasize already existing guarantees required for the partnership to succeed, as OGS mentioned.

The Rwanda -UK deal, struck by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in April 2022, was designed to deter asylum seekers from making dangerous journeys across the Channel, and Sunak has made ending the influx one of five priorities as he seeks to turn around his and his party's fortunes.

"We will stop the boats," James Cleverly, Braverman's replacement as interior minister, said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

This year more than 27,000 people have arrived in Britain on small boats without permission after a record 45,755 were detected in 2022.

The scheme was put on hold in June last year after the European Court of Human Rights granted a last-minute injunction, blocking the first planned flight. That directive has now expired.

@ OGS &GOV.UK, Reuters.