UK leader Rishi Sunak and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame reiterated on Tuesday their expectation that Britain would soon commence the deportation of undocumented migrants to the African country, despite facing fresh scrutiny over the controversial initiative.
Prime Minister Sunak welcomed President Kagame at his official residence in London, coinciding with a report from a British newspaper revealing that properties in Kigali intended for the relocated migrants had been sold to local buyers instead.
A government spokesperson disclosed that Sunak briefed President Kagame “on the upcoming stages of the legislation in parliament”, which remains a focal point of contention.
“Both leaders anticipate the departure of flights to Rwanda in the spring,” the spokesperson added.
The deportation plan forms a crucial component of Sunak’s strategy to deter asylum seekers, many of whom risk their lives crossing the English Channel from France in small boats.
The proposed legislation is currently undergoing a process of legislative “ping-pong”, whereby the elected House of Commons and the unelected House of Lords exchange the bill for amendments.
The proposed legislation seeks to compel judges to recognize Rwanda as a safe third country and grant UK ministers authority to disregard sections of international and British human rights legislation.
According to a report in The Times on Tuesday, 70 percent of the 163 homes constructed in the Rwandan capital have been sold, leaving limited accommodation for asylum seekers.
A spokesperson for the Rwandan government contested the number of properties sold and emphasized that the housing estate was just one of several projects where migrants would reside alongside Rwandan communities.
Sunak aims to quell a resurgent opposition Labour Party by implementing the one-way flight scheme to Kigali, particularly with a general election looming later this year.