Rwanda is expected to host the first center for migrants expelled from Europe, possibly from the start of next year, consistent sources told AFP.
Under an agreement expected in the coming weeks, rejected asylum seekers from five European countries should soon be sent to a “return hub” in the East African country. These centers were designed in conjunction with the European Commission, a year and a half ago, in order to significantly increase the number of expulsions of migrants from European territory.
For several months, these five European Union (EU) countries - Germany, Austria, Denmark, Greece and the Netherlands - have been working hard to open one of these centers as quickly and efficiently as possible. Supporters of a very firm migratory line, their reasoning is twofold: in addition to expelling rejected asylum seekers, they hope to discourage migrants from trying to settle on the continent. Their stated objective is to conclude an agreement with a country by the end of the year, in order to allow the opening of a center in 2027.
Rwanda has been among the destinations considered for several months. According to sources close to the negotiations, he now appears to be the most likely candidate. Representatives from the five countries went to Kigali for a mission in early September, a diplomatic source told AFP. A Rwandan delegation traveled to Europe a few days ago, stopping in Brussels for meetings.
These “return hubs” are widely criticized by the left and NGOs, who are concerned about the treatment of migrants in these establishments. France is also skeptical. President Emmanuel Macron strongly criticized the concept on the sidelines of a summit in June, judging that these centers were “neither effective” nor in line with EU values. In order to allay some of the concerns, the five European countries intend to first launch this center on a very small scale, another diplomatic source explained to AFP. A sort of pilot project.
The idea is to first send around twenty rejected asylum seekers per European country concerned, probably adult men, apprehended at the border. And to anticipate all possible scenarios before the formal announcement: who will transport them, what will happen if one of the migrants falls ill, etc...? According to a source close to the negotiations, the establishment will not be a closed detention center. Rwanda wants to call these “reception centers” and could offer vocational training there.
“I don't see how it is welcoming to send hundreds of people outside the European Union, simply because we do not want them to stay in the EU,” retorts MEP Anna Strolenberg, returning from a mission to Rwanda a few weeks ago. On site, the elected Dutch environmentalist noted a negative evolution “in sentiment towards refugees” and sees the planned opening of this center as “a serious error”. These five European countries are in fact not the first to be interested in Rwanda. The United Kingdom announced in 2022 its intention to open a center there. But the project was ultimately abandoned by Keir Starmer's government, due to legal obstacles.
Under President Donald Trump, the United States has stepped up efforts to deport foreigners who cannot legally be returned to their countries, offering to send them to countries like Uganda, El Salvador and Rwanda. The agreement between Rwanda and EU countries could be formalized in mid-November, possibly on the sidelines of a conference in Vienna devoted to migration issues, three sources told AFP. “The dialogue is progressing very well but we will not comment on the timing or the country,” said a diplomat from one of these five countries.
The Rwandan government did not immediately respond to requests from AFP. The European Commission participates in some of these meetings as an observer, without commenting directly on the terms of the project. Uganda and Uzbekistan are also among the countries likely to eventually host one of these centers.
