3 weeks ago
Botswana's overseas curate said his state had been approached by nan U.K. to return immoderate of what he called their "unwanted immigrants" but declined nan request.
Lemogang Kwape's comments successful a telephone question and reply pinch South African tv transmission Newzroom Afrika connected Tuesday came hours aft nan British Parliament yet passed authorities allowing a contentious scheme to nonstop immoderate migrants to Rwanda to move ahead. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said nan first flights to Rwanda successful East Africa would now time off successful July.
UK PLAN TO SEND MIGRANTS TO RWANDA CRITICIZED BY HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS AFTER PARLIAMENT BACKS NEW LAW
Kwape didn't opportunity erstwhile nan U.K. approached nan confederate African federation of Botswana. It struck its contentious woody pinch Rwanda successful April 2022 and British media has reported that nan U.K. authorities has since held talks pinch 4 countries — Armenia, Costa Rica, Ivory Coast and Botswana — complete replicating nan Rwanda plan.
This photograph provided by nan Prefecture Maritime du Nord et de la Manche shows migrants continuing their travel to Britain disconnected nan bluish France coast, Tuesday, April 23, 2024. Five people, including a child, died while trying to transverse nan English Channel from France to nan U.K., French authorities said Tuesday, conscionable hours aft nan British authorities approved a migrant measure to deport immoderate of those who entered nan state illegally to Rwanda. (Prefecture Maritime du Nord et de la Manche via AP)
"I tin corroborate that so nan British authorities done nan overseas caput and nan curate for Africa did attack Botswana done negotiated channels to person forbidden migrants that are destined for nan United Kingdom, but we did not accede to their request," Kwape told Newzroom Afrika.
"We person capable problems that we are dealing with, particularly migration problems successful our neighborhood," he said. "So I deliberation to person unwanted immigrants from different state while we are dealing pinch our ain problems successful nan region will beryllium unfair to Botswana."
Kwape said British authorities had mentioned migrants from Afghanistan arsenic immoderate of those they were proposing mightiness beryllium moved to Botswana but that was nan only state mentioned.
"They were not that explicit," Kwape said.
Sunak's scheme to stem nan tide of migrants crossing nan English Channel successful mini boats successful nan dream of claiming asylum successful nan U.K. has been beset by tribunal battles and legislative delays and has been fiercely criticized by quality authorities groups.
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The statement will spot migrants who get successful nan U.K. arsenic stowaways aliases successful boats sent to Rwanda, wherever their asylum claims would beryllium processed. If successful, they would enactment successful Rwanda.
The British authorities has already paid Rwanda astatine slightest $298 cardinal for nan asylum scheme moreover though nary migrants person been deported yet.
