Rwanda has officially received its first group of seven migrants deported from the United States earlier this month, marking the start of a bilateral arrangement that permits the transfer of up to 250 individuals, Reuters disclosed.
Government spokesperson Yolande Makolo explained that of the arrivals, three expressed a wish to return to their countries of origin, while four indicated an intention to remain in Rwanda to begin new lives, the outlet revealed. Officials further emphasized that the deportees will be provided with temporary housing, healthcare, and vocational support, with oversight from the International Organization for Migration in coordination with Rwanda’s social services, Reuters indicated.
This move places Rwanda among a small group of African nations, including South Sudan, Eswatini, and Uganda, that have agreed to cooperate with the United States on deportation transfers, an approach that has stirred international debate on human rights obligations, as highlighted by the Associated Press.
