The new UK Prime Minister, Liz Truss, has re-emphasised her support for UK-Rwanda migration and economic development partnership, under which some of the migrants and asylum seekers who illegally entered the UK are to be transferred to Rwanda. Truss also suggested the expansion of the partnership with Rwanda which implies that the UK may enter similar arrangements with different countries. As per the arrangement with Rwanda, the first flight carrying migrants and asylum seekers from the UK was supposed to set off on June 14, but was cancelled at the last minute due to legal battles in European Court of Human Rights, following an injunction that was applied for by an Iraqi national who had appealed against his transfer. “We are taking decisive action by strengthening our borders and beefing up our border force and expanding the Rwanda scheme. Our brilliant new Home Secretary (Suella Braverman) will be bringing forward legislation to make sure that no European judge can overrule us,” said Truss while speaking at the ruling Conservative Party's annual conference on Tuesday this week. While campaigning for office in July, Truss had indicated that when she gets in office, she would ensure the Rwanda deal works. In her address to the conference, Braverman said that it was her dream to see the Rwanda deal work despite legal challenges. She said that she had also suggested changes in the law so that the UK takes back its migration powers from the European Court of Human Rights. Braverman spoke against the ruling by the European Court of Human Rights, saying, “We cannot allow a foreign court to undermine the sovereignty of our borders. If you deliberately enter the U.K. illegally from a safe country, you should be swiftly returned to your home country or relocated to Rwanda,” Braverman said. Rwandan officials have since the signing of the partnership indicated that Rwanda’s interests are solely contributing to providing a solution to the already broken global asylum system that is currently being exploited by human traffickers. When the flight to Rwanda was halted, Rwanda’s government spokesperson, Yolande Makolo said, Rwanda remains ready to receive the migrants when they do arrive. “We are not deterred by these developments. Rwanda remains fully committed to making this partnership work. The current situation of people making dangerous journeys cannot continue as it is causing untold suffering to so many,” Makolo said. Officials say that Rwanda is driven by experiences in managing migrants, offering refugees and asylum seekers a dignified lifestyle and facilitating them to formally relocate to places of their choice. So far, Rwanda has taken in over 130, 000 refugees and over 1000 migrants who were stranded in Libya, rescued, relocated and resettled in Rwanda. Majority were facilitated to relocate to other countries.
