There is a good reason why Rwanda is a safe place for asylum seekers

Author: Emma Mukasa

• 2023-06-28 05:17:00

Rwanda welcomed the 14th group of 134 refugees and asylum seekers from Libya, on June 12, bringing the total number of evacuees to 1,737 – ever since the establishment of the Emergency Transit Mechanism in September 2019.

Accommodated in Gashora Transit Center, most asylum seekers are from Eritrea, Sudan, Mali, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Somalia. Some had been living in Libyan capital Tripoli while others had been arbitrarily held in detention centers, some for several months.

Rwanda provides them with security, assistance, and long-term solutions from health to education. The asylum seekers are granted the same level of access and services as Rwandan citizens. They are happy, healthier, and relaxed, in Rwanda.

“We are thankful for Rwanda. We do not encounter any problems, so far we’re good compared to the insecure environment we’ve been through, in countries without rule of law, with detentions and violence,” said Aisha Abdallah, a mother of two.

For Zemen Fesaha, that life in Libya was horrifying and difficult.

“Movement for us was limited; some were tortured in detention camps, and even if I’ve been lucky to be here, my friends are still suffering in Libya, it is a horrible experience,” he said.

"In Rwanda, I can walk, move freely and do everything I want. So, I can’t compare my current life to the life in Libya, because there, you only survive that day and you won’t know what’s coming up tomorrow.”

So far, almost 1,000 asylum seekers have been resettled in third countries. Others will be helped to return to their home countries if it is safe while some will be given permission to remain in Rwanda if they choose to. Given the country’s history, Rwanda chose to never turn away anyone seeking refuge. The country’s leadership prioritizes safety for every human being; providing them a dignified and decent life.

The Rwandan government took the responsibility of positively responding to the global migration crisis.  Kigali, despite the noisy critics who offer no single alternative solution, is leading by example.  

Other than providing safety to Afghanistan girls who were banned from attending school following the fall of the country to the Taliban in 2021, Rwanda signed a migration and economic development partnership with the UK in April 2022. The approach is meant to give a better life to people who leave their countries to seek asylum in European countries and end up living an unpleasant life.  

This innovative solution has seen hundreds of migrants who entered or sought to enter the UK illegally, transferred to Rwanda where they are offered human capital investments aligned with their capabilities and goals including skills training, language training, higher education, as well as healthcare and social protection.

In Rwanda, they go through the process of either seeking asylum or immigration. Those who do not wish to stay in Rwanda are facilitated to either return to their countries of origin or choose a third country. Those who will choose to remain in Rwanda will be welcomed and offered full access to the country’s services just as any Rwandans.

Despite how life saving the deal is to migrants, detractors of the UK-Rwanda asylum plan never cease to say that it is not advisable; and lying that Rwanda is unsafe for the asylum seekers.  

The detractors are the so-called rights groups, activists and lawyers who gain from the refugees’ illegal crossing.  They tarnish the image of Rwanda for the sake of filling their pockets in the name of activism.

They have never denounced the evacuation of refugees from Libya to Rwanda and nor did they advocate for other refugees living in Rwanda. They only raise their voices when it comes to UK migrants.

If they are really human rights activists, why do they only pity specific groups of migrants?

Rwanda is offering safety and security to over 130,000 refugees from all over the world. It gave them a chance to build a new life, through education, training, and employment opportunities. Some have now settled and started businesses. 

 In February, the European Union offered an additional support of €22 million to refugees and asylum seekers from Libya hosted in Rwanda.

And Germany wants the EU to adopt a Rwanda-style migrant system with asylum seekers being sent to non-EU states, proposing Rwanda and Niger.

Basically, Rwanda has set a good example when it comes to dealing with the asylum seekers challenge.