The Rwandan government says it cannot guarantee the reception of all migrants from the United Kingdom

The British Parliament has passed a controversial law allowing certain migrants to be deported to Rwanda. If everything seems settled between the two countries, the governments are obviously not on the same tempo.

Rwanda is preparing to welcome migrants unwanted by Britain. The law carried by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and passed on April 23, 2024 placed his country under fire from criticism. This agreement to deport migrants to Rwanda has already cost the British government nearly 350 million euros. If everything now seems settled between the two countries, the spokesperson for the Rwandan government Yolande Makolo announced on Sunday May 5, in an interview with the British channel BBC that her country “could not guarantee the number of migrants it will receive from the UK”.

Almost perfect harmony reigns, from London to Kigali. We take care of communication to praise the merits of this partnership. A first voluntary migrant took off last week from Great Britain to discover the first reception point designated by the Rwandan government. This is a show apartment building, where the ornamental garden is impeccable, the paint still fresh. Each migrant will receive up to 3,500 euros; London has already identified 52,000 people eligible for this unprecedented expulsion program. An initiative described as potentially “dangerous” by the United Nations.

The British government hopes to deport 5,700 people by the end of 2024. A figure not guaranteed by Yolande Makolo, the spokesperson for the Rwandan government. “The first reception area that we have managed to secure since the start of our partnership is the Hôtel de l’Espoir. This place is able to accommodate up to 200 people”she told the BBC last Sunday. “What I can’t tell you is how many thousands of people we will be able to welcome within one or two years. It depends on several parameters that I am working on”she added.

Political issues for the two leaders

First observation, the British and Rwandan governments do not seem to be on the same tempo. On the one hand, in London, Rishi Sunak is impatient at the idea of ​​transforming his controversial law into a political victory. On the other hand, in Kigali, the authorities prefer to take care of welcoming the first migrants and avoid the image of an overwhelmed government. These precautions are all the more essential as Rwanda is in the middle of an electoral campaign, a sensitive period. The presidential election will take place on July 15, 2024. President Kagame is running again after amending the Constitution. At the slightest confusion about the system for welcoming British migrants, he runs the risk of releasing all criticism of his authoritarian approach to power.

It is precisely at the beginning of July that London plans to take off the first planes towards Kigali. A timetable confirmed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who also plays a big role in this issue. Although his law was passed, it remains highly criticized. His party has just suffered a serious defeat in the local elections on the weekend of May 4, its deportation program has caused migrants to flee to Ireland and Rishi Sunak must now deal with the anger of Dublin.