German official says Rwanda deportation plan using UK facilities considered
A German government representative has suggested relocating refugees to centers in Rwanda that would be financially supported by the United Kingdom.
A government representative from Germany suggested relocating asylum seekers to centers in Rwanda that are supported by the United Kingdom. This proposal comes shortly after the UK decided not to move forward with its own plan to deport individuals to Rwanda.
Joachim Stamp, who is Germany's Special Representative for Migration Agreements, suggested that the European Union could make use of already established asylum centers in Rwanda. These centers were originally meant for Britain's plan to relocate undocumented refugees and migrants to Rwanda in 2022.
That idea was dropped by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's new government in July after it was deemed illegal by the UK High Court.
In a recent podcast by Table Media on Thursday, Stamp from Germany mentioned that Rwanda has openly stated their commitment to continue using this approach.
"At this time, only Rwanda has expressed interest," he stated, highlighting that the plan is focused on refugees and migrants who are coming into the EU from the eastern borders, estimated to be around 10,000 people each year.
The idea is being presented at a time when the German government is under increasing pressure to deal with illegal immigration due to the growing popularity of far-right views and recent successes by the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in elections.
Stamp, a member of the Free Democratic party and an employee at the Interior Ministry, has rejected the conservative opposition's suggestion to implement a similar approach for all refugees.
The German envoy to the United Kingdom, Miguel Berger, stated that their system is not the same as the one implemented in the UK.
The German government has no intention to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, as mentioned by the official. Instead, they are considering handling asylum applications in third countries in accordance with international humanitarian law and with assistance from the UN.
According to the British proposal, asylum seekers sent to Rwanda would remain there if their request was approved but would not have the option to go back to the UK. If their claim was unsuccessful, they could choose to stay in Rwanda for other reasons or try to seek asylum in another country.
People facing deportation from the UK to Rwanda were unable to be sent back due to legal issues. However, the UK had already funded the construction of accommodation for migrants in the city of Kigali.
