In a virtual address to the Global Security Forum in Qatar, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame defended his country’s record in assisting refugees on Wednesday.
This comes amid criticism from human rights activists regarding a new British law that compensates Kigali for accepting illegal asylum seekers deported from the United Kingdom.
Kagame emphasized that Rwanda has a longstanding history of hosting migrants, predating its agreement with the UK.
“We are currently processing migrants who are stranded in Libya trying to cross into Europe or those who are dying in the Mediterranean,” he stated.
He highlighted that providing a “safe haven” for people or facilitating their passage through Rwanda dates back to 2018. “At that time, we had no agreements with any country, so there was no external funding—only our resources.
We collaborated with migration institutions, international bodies, and UNHCR,” Kagame explained.
He noted that since 2018, hundreds and thousands of people have been airlifted from Libya to Rwanda.
“This approach caught the UK’s attention as an alternative method for addressing the migration crisis,” he added.
In April, Britain’s parliament passed legislation allowing some migrants to be sent to Rwanda, paving the way for flights this European summer.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s plan aims to discourage dangerous English Channel crossings by those seeking to reach the UK.
Despite this, human rights activists and migrant groups continue to oppose the policy, condemning it as unethical and inhumane.
The forum, which concluded on Wednesday, covered topics such as supply chain management, energy security, high-end semiconductors, and food security.
