Musings From Abroad

Court rules Britain/Rwanda migration deal unlawful

Published

1 year ago

June 29, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

A London Court of Appeal has ruled that the British government’s plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda is unlawful.

The three presiding senior judges on the matter ruled that Rwanda could not be treated as a safe third country.

The British government revealed plans to deport thousands of refugees to the East African country last year in an effort to deter asylum seekers from attempting to cross the English Channel from France in small boats. An agreement worth £148 million includes the initiative.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the British government would attempt to appeal the court’s ruling.

“While I respect the court, I fundamentally disagree with their conclusions,” Sunak said in a statement. “Rwanda is a safe country … We will now seek permission to appeal this decision to the Supreme Court.”

A few human rights organizations and asylum seekers from nations like Syria, Sudan, Iraq, Iran, and Vietnam are contesting the High Court of London’s December finding that the program was valid.

A projected 9.5 million people, or 14.4% of the UK’s population, were foreign-born in 2021. Last year, a record 45,000 migrants, largely from France, crossed the English Channel in small boats. Thus far this year, more than 11,000 people have visited.

Related Topics:Featured Rwanda UK/Rwanda migrant deal

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Musings From Abroad

Brazilian meatpacker JBS invests $2.5 billion in Nigeria, builds six facilities

Published

8 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Brazilian meatpacker JBS says it has inked a memorandum of understanding with the Nigerian government for a $2.5 billion investment plan that will include the construction of six new plants in the African nation.

Three of the plants would deal in poultry, two in beef, and one in pork, according to a statement from JBS.

In accordance with the memorandum of understanding, JBS stated that it would develop a five-year investment plan in Nigeria, which would include budget estimates, feasibility studies, and an action plan for the development of the local supply chain.

The Nigerian government would then guarantee the sanitary, regulatory, and economic conditions required for the project’s viability, JBS continued.

Musings From Abroad

China’s Xi meets with Morocco’s Crown Prince

Published

8 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Morocco’s official media reports that Chinese President, Xi Jinping, visited Morocco briefly on Thursday.

According to Morocco’s MAP, Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan welcomed Xi in Casablanca. The visit demonstrated the close ties of camaraderie, collaboration, and solidarity between the Moroccan and Chinese peoples, it said.

China’s official broadcaster, CCTV, said that Xi and Hassan had a “cordial conversation” at the airport after being received by the Crown Prince and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch.

After attending the G20 Summit in Brazil, Xi paid the visit.

In recent years, China has increased its investments in Morocco’s rail and infrastructure. Morocco is desirable for Chinese electric car battery manufacturers because of its proximity to Europe, free trade agreements with important EU and US markets, and an established automotive sector.

Morocco was chosen by Chinese EV battery company Gotion High Tech in June to establish Africa’s first gigafactory, which will cost $1.3 billion in total.