Rwanda has confirmed the arrival of its first group of migrants deported from the United States under a bilateral agreement with Washington.
Government spokesperson Yolande Makolo said on Thursday that seven individuals arrived in Kigali in mid-August after their cases were vetted and approved under the terms of the deal. The agreement allows Rwandan authorities to review each case before granting entry.
Makolo disclosed no details about the deportees’ identities but noted that they have been “accommodated by an international organisation.” She added that the group is receiving support from the International Organisation for Migration and Rwanda’s social services.
In addition to accommodation, deportees approved for settlement will be offered workforce training and healthcare. Makolo revealed that three of the group have requested to return to their home countries, while the other four have expressed interest in remaining in Rwanda to rebuild their lives.
Earlier this month, Kigali announced that it would accept up to 250 people expelled from the United States under policies linked to former President Donald Trump’s anti-immigration agenda. Rwanda is among four African nations with such agreements; the others are Uganda, Eswatini, and South Sudan.
However, rights groups have raised concerns that these deportations may breach international law by exposing individuals to the risk of torture, abduction, or other forms of abuse in the receiving countries.
The agreement comes at a time when Rwanda has positioned itself as a partner for Western nations in handling migration, though critics argue such arrangements risk overlooking human rights obligations.
Melissa Enoch
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