By any metric you can apply, Rwanda is a safe country. Our treatment of refugees has been recognised as exemplary, by the UNHCR and others. We were commended for stepping in to evacuate refugees from detention centres in Libya, for welcoming Afghani girls wanting to continue to pursue their education, and for hosting 140,000 refugees in our country. In years to come we as Rwandans can look back and say our country tried to make a contribution to finding solutions to the global migration crisis. We did not accept and defend the status quo, of people smugglers sending dinghies of innocents to their deaths, or coastguards in the Mediterranean abandoning these unsafe vessels to the waves. No, the system is broken, the status quo must change, and innovative solutions are the only way forward. The fury and screaming headlines about Rwanda’s safety are groundless and based on an archaic view of Africa – how many of these critics have ever set foot on the continent let alone visited our safe and progressive country? Rwanda has shown with our current migration arrangements that we are “a safe third country”. It’s why the UNHCR sees us as a trusted partner, and it’s why the UK identified Rwanda for this partnership. Rwanda has provided sufficient assurances on our asylum system, which is well grounded in policy, law and practice. As a country we are a dutiful party to the Refugee Convention, with which we comply scrupulously, in keeping with our open-door policy towards refugees. These assurances were good enough for the UK Government, for the High Court, and for a third of the judges who ruled on the appeal. There should be no doubt, any asylum seekers who arrive in Rwanda will have their rights assured under domestic and international law. We are at peace with where we stand in the global migration system, as a country with ideas for change and the courage to try them. Rwanda remains committed to this partnership with the UK. When the migrants from the UK do come, we will be ready to provide them with safety and the opportunity to build a new life in Rwanda. Lastly, Rwanda is not sitting idle waiting for the UK’s migrants to arrive. We have a progressive agenda based on creating dignified and empowered lives for our citizens and all who make Rwanda their home. Our GDP grew by 9.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2023. We rank third in Africa for economic freedom. Rwanda seeks out green investments and is one of the world’s most ambitious countries in climate action. We have committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35 per cent by 2030, and reach net zero by 2050. Life expectancy has gone from 49 in 2000 to 70 today, and we are approaching universal access to healthcare and education. We are delivering for our people, while also contributing to solutions to global problems. We will continue to push on and grow regardless. The author is the High Commissioner of Rwanda to the UK. This article was first published by The Telegraph, a UK-based publication.
