The United Kingdom has long wanted to accommodate migrants in Rwanda. — © AFP
Up to 3,000 pounds (about 3,500 euros), that is the price the British government is willing to pay migrants to voluntarily go to Rwanda. The Ministry of the Interior announced this on Wednesday. The government also plans to deport migrants who enter the country irregularly to Rwanda, but the ‘Rwanda deal’ has long been met with widespread criticism.
The current proposal, which Kigali has already given the green light, would target people who have no right to stay in the country but who cannot return to their country of origin. “We are investigating the possibility of sending those (migrants, ed.) who have no right to be here to Rwanda on a voluntary basis,” said a ministry spokesperson.
According to the same spokesperson, 19,000 people were voluntarily deported from the United Kingdom last year. Migrants who voluntarily go to Rwanda can receive up to 3,000 pounds for this, writes the British medium The Times. They would also be supported by the Rwandan authorities for a period of five years, for example in the field of housing.
The scheme could, for example, apply to people from Iran or Afghanistan, according to The Times. According to the government, the system can be activated quickly because it relies on existing structures and agreements agreed in the past with Rwanda.
The opposition has once again criticized the proposal.