Safety of Rwanda Bill

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Context:

The United Kingdom’s upper house of parliament passed a Bill as part of the government’s plan for deporting undocumented immigrants to the East African nation of Rwanda.

Details of the bill:

The bill aims to address concerns raised by the UK Supreme Court regarding mistreatment of asylum-seekers in Rwanda.
The bill declares Rwanda as a safe third country for removing individuals to Rwanda.

Background on UK-Rwanda Policy

Under the policy Migrants, arriving in Britain by various means, would be flown to Rwanda for assessment and possible resettlement.
The policy aimed to deter human trafficking and dangerous migration routes by offering resettlement in Rwanda for undocumented arrivals.
The UK government committed significant funds to Rwanda for housing, integration, and support services for migrants as per the bill.

Supreme Court Ruling and Response:

In November 2023, the UK Supreme Court ruled the policy illegal, citing concerns about mistreatment and safety of asylum-seekers in Rwanda.
The ruling highlighted risks of refoulement (sending migrants back to unsafe countries) and lack of adequate protections in Rwanda.
In response, the UK government negotiated a new treaty with Rwanda to make new law to strengthen protections for migrants.
The Safety of Rwanda Bill was then passed to reaffirm Rwanda as a safe third country and ensure the policy's continuity.

Rwanda

●Location and Geography:

○Rwanda is a landlocked country located in East Africa.

○It is bordered by Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, Burundi to the south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west.

●Capital and Major Cities:

○The capital city of Rwanda is Kigali, which is also the country's largest city.

○Other major cities include Butare, Gitarama, and Ruhengeri.

●Population and Ethnicity:

○Rwanda has a population of approximately 12 million people (as of 2022).

○The population is primarily composed of three ethnic groups: the Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa.

●Official Languages: The official languages of Rwanda are Kinyarwanda, English, French, and Swahili.

●History:

○Rwanda gained independence from Belgium in 1962.

○The country experienced a tragic genocide in 1994, during which an estimated 800,000 people, mostly Tutsis, were killed in a span of 100 days.

●Environmental Features:

○Rwanda is known as the "Land of a Thousand Hills" due to its hilly and mountainous terrain.

○It is also home to part of the Albertine Rift, a biodiversity hotspot, and contains various national parks and wildlife reserves.

Outcome and consequences:

The government will be free to start detaining asylum seekers, a move that will trigger further legal challenges by charities, campaigners and unions who argue that Rwanda is not a safe destination.

Read all the details about Rwandan genocide in:

Source

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q) Which of the following country (s) shares borders with Rwanda, a country in Africa?

1) Uganda
2) Kenya
3) Burundi
4) Zambia

Choose the correct option:

A.Only One

B. Only Two

C. Only Three

D. All Four