The Government of Rwanda has dismissed claims of a secret deal entered with their Israeli counterparts regarding the relocation of African migrants. For months, global media has been awash with reports that Rwanda had entered a secret deal with Israel to host African migrants, mainly from the Horn of Africa, who sought asylum in the Middle East country.
The Government of Rwanda has dismissed claims of a secret deal entered with their Israeli counterparts regarding the relocation of African migrants.
For months, global media has been awash with reports that Rwanda had entered a secret deal with Israel to host African migrants, mainly from the Horn of Africa, who sought asylum in the Middle East country.
"In reference to the rumors that have been recently spread in the media, the Government of Rwanda wishes to inform that it has never signed any secret deal with Israel regarding the relocation of African migrants,” reads a statement from Government Spokesperson, Minister Louise Mushikiwabo.
Mushikiwabo also doubles as the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
According to the statement, Rwanda’s position on the issue has always been informed by compassion towards the plight of African migrants who have been perishing in seas as they try to migrate from the continent in search for greener pastures.
"Rwanda’s policy vis-à-vis Africans in need of a home, temporary or permanent, within our country's means, remains "open doors”, reads part of the statement.
Besides the deaths at sea, African migrants, en route to Europe, have ended up being traded in modern-day slave trade markets in Libya.
"In these times of global migration crisis, Rwanda wishes to reiterate its firm determination to contribute, as much as possible, to the issue of men, women, and children who find themselves on the treacherous road of exile,” the statement adds.
Rwanda is ready to help in whatever limited way it could, by welcoming anyone arriving at its borders in need of a home, voluntarily and without any constraint, the statement reads.
Following the reports of the thousands of African migrants trapped in Libya, Rwanda in November last year offered to host up to 30,000 of these immigrants.
Rwanda also offered to help transport those that opted to return to their home countries.
Israel, currently is home to about 40,000 asylum seekers, according to government figures.
These include 27,500 from Eritrea and 7,800 from Sudan, figures from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees indicate.
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