Germany explores using UK-funded facilities in Rwanda for asylum processing
Germany could potentially utilize facilities funded by the UK to process some asylum seekers in Rwanda, according to the country’s migration agreements commissioner, Joachim Stamp. Stamp, a member of the Free Democratic Party, which is part of the governing coalition, suggested that accommodation initially intended for individuals deported from the UK could now be repurposed by Germany.
However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has previously expressed skepticism about processing asylum applications abroad, making it unlikely that the idea will be adopted.
The UK government had scrapped its own Rwanda plan, originally introduced under the Conservatives, which aimed to deter people from crossing the Channel in small boats by sending them to Rwanda. The plan was ultimately abandoned by the new UK government.
German Ambassador to the UK, Miguel Berger, clarified that there is no plan for the German government to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. He emphasized that the discussion in Germany revolves around processing asylum applications in third countries, in line with international humanitarian law and with the support of the United Nations.
Under the UK’s original plan, asylum seekers sent to Rwanda would not have been allowed to return to the UK. If their claims were accepted in Rwanda, they could stay there; if not, they could apply to settle in Rwanda on other grounds or seek asylum elsewhere.
Germany, like the UK, is facing increasing pressure to address illegal migration, particularly after the far-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) party gained ground in recent state elections.
Speaking on the Table Briefings podcast, Mr. Stamp proposed a scheme that could target people crossing the EU’s eastern borders, overseen by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). He noted, “We currently have no third country willing to participate, except for Rwanda.”
In November, Chancellor Scholz promised to examine whether asylum applications could be processed abroad but cautioned that there were significant legal questions regarding the implementation of such a scheme.
When asked about Mr. Stamp’s comments, a Downing Street spokesperson declined to comment on discussions between other nations, stating, “Policies pursued by other countries are a matter for them. Our position regarding Rwanda is well known.”
Labour had previously branded the Conservative government’s Rwanda scheme as an expensive “gimmick” and scrapped it upon taking power. Conservative Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly criticized Labour’s decision, claiming, “Labour’s first move in government was to scrap the Rwanda plan. Now Germany wants to use the facilities we built. The only people who benefit from Labour’s reckless immigration policies are people smugglers and the EU.”
The UK’s Rwanda plan was stalled by legal challenges, and no migrants were deported under the scheme. However, accommodation for migrants, funded by the UK, had already been built in Kigali. The manager of one hostel in the Rwandan capital told the BBC in April that it was ready to start housing people.
The UK government has indicated that it is considering whether it can recoup some of the £220 million paid to Rwanda as part of the scheme. However, the Rwandan government has stated that it is under no obligation to repay the money.
Credit: BBC
