Musings From Abroad

British PM Sunak remains adamant over migration deal with Rwanda

Published

6 months ago

April 24, 2024

British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has remained adamant on the controversial migration deal, promising to start sending asylum seekers to Rwanda within 10 to 12 weeks.

This would happen after parliament passed long-awaited legislation that would make it easier to remove people who come to Britain illegally.

The Supreme Court ruled the policy illegal in November, but Sunak says the new law is more important than any legal issues. This is how he plans to keep his promise to stop people coming across the Channel in small boats.

Sunak also said he would stop people from taking small boats across the Channel, which is a dangerous route that goes for about 20 miles (32 km). Last year, more than 29,000 people came this way. In 2022, a record 45,775 refugees came this way.

For many Britons, leaving the European Union in 2016 meant taking back control of Britain’s borders and stopping people from freely moving into the country but reports show the situation remains a problem. There have been 6,265 people found so far this year, which is almost 25% more than the same time last year.

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson agreed to the plan in April 2022. It sends anyone who came to Britain illegally after January 1, 2022, to Rwanda, which is about 4,000 miles (6,400 km) away.

Nevertheless, European courts stopped the first flight of people being sent back to their home countries in June 2022. The Supreme Court then supported a decision that the plan was illegal because migrants could be sent back to their home countries or to other countries where they would be mistreated.

Sunak said that the government had reserved commercial charter planes, ready an airfield, and trained staff to take migrants to Rwanda. He said that the first flight would leave in 10 to 12 weeks, but his party thinks that the new law doesn’t go far enough to stop asylum seekers from being able to appeal against being sent back to their home country.

Because of the law, British courts won’t be able to decide if Rwanda is safe, but they might have to decide on specific cases on their own, though only for very narrow reasons.

“If it ever comes to a choice between our national security — securing our borders — and membership of a foreign court, I’m, of course, always going to prioritise our national security,” Sunak said.

Britain has already paid Rwanda more than 200 million pounds ($304 million), and it could cost more than 600 million pounds to resettle about 300 people. At this point, about 50,000 people could be sent there, but it’s still unclear how many people Rwanda can hold.

Related Topics:Featured Rishi Sunak Rwanda

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Musings From Abroad

US requests probe into murders of two Mozambique opposition figures

Published

7 hours ago

October 24, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The United States administration denounced the weekend deaths of two Mozambique opposition members, demanding a prompt and comprehensive inquiry ahead of protests against a disputed election outcome.

According to the US State Department website, the US is the largest bilateral donor to Mozambique, providing approximately $560 million annually in aid.

Washington, along with the EU and Portugal, condemned and demanded an investigation into the murders of opposition lawyer Elvino Dias and party official Paulo Guambe, who were shot in their car on Saturday.

“The United States condemns the killings of lawyer Elvino Dias and Podemos parliamentary candidate Paulo Guambe in Mozambique,” the U.S. State Department said in a statement.

“We join the calls made by all four of Mozambique’s national political parties in urging a swift and thorough investigation.”

In the capital Maputo, demonstrators gathering near the location where the two opposition party leaders were shot dead on Saturday following a contentious election were met with gunshots and tear gas by Mozambique police on Monday.

Early results from Mozambique’s general election on October 9 indicate that the ruling Frelimo party is projected to win again. The final results are anticipated this week. Candidates in opposition claim the poll was manipulated.

Since 1975, Frelimo has governed the southern African nation, and opposition leaders, civic society, and election monitors have accused him of electoral fraud. It refutes the accusations.

The State Department called on Mozambique’s political leaders, residents, stakeholders, and state institutions to settle electoral disputes legally and peacefully while avoiding inflammatory rhetoric and violence.

Musings From Abroad

Britain says Commonwealth conference won’t discuss slavery reparations

Published

8 hours ago

October 24, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Britain will not discuss reparations for historical transatlantic slavery at a Commonwealth conference that began in Samoa, but is open to leaders who do.

Leaders and officials from 56 former British colonies will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in the Pacific Island nation this week.

British governments have consistently opposed reparations, but CARICOM reparations panel chairperson Hilary Beckles expressed optimism for a shift under the new Labour administration after 14 years of Conservative control

King Charles and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will both be present at the Samoa conference. However, Starmer’s representative reaffirmed Monday that he had no plans to make amends.

“We do not pay reparations,” the spokesperson said. “The position on an apology remains the same. We won’t be offering an apology at CHOGM.”

Starmer’s spokeswoman stated that they would “continue to engage with partners on these issues” even though reparations are not on his “formal” Commonwealth agenda.

According to a source with knowledge of the situation at Caricom, which brings together 15 member states like Barbados and Jamaica, CHOGM offered a significant chance for reparations discussions and the region will bring up the subject there, Reuters reported.

Keith Rowley, the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago, stated in July that CARICOM has decided to “very forcefully” discuss reparations in Samoa. Reparations are supported by each of the three contenders for the Commonwealth’s next secretary-general position.

CARICOM has a plan for restitution that goes beyond making large financial contributions. It calls for formal apologies from European nations and calls for funding for educational initiatives, among other things.

Although it has been around for a while, the concept of reparations for slavery has been gaining traction globally. Proponents contend that the legacy of slavery has led to significant and enduring racial inequality in the modern day, while opponents argue that nations shouldn’t be held accountable for past wrongs.