Musings From Abroad

UK asylum-seeker’s flight to Rwanda stalled as European Human Rights Court steps in

Published

2 years ago

June 15, 2022

The first chartered flight that was to take asylum seekers from the United Kingdom to Rwanda on Tuesday did not take off as scheduled after the European Human Rights Court (EHRC) issued a last-minute injunction to stop the deportation of the handful of migrants on board.

The plan by the Boris Johnson government to send around 130 asylum seekers to Rwanda was agreed back in April between the UK and the African country and the first flight was scheduled to air lift around 30 migrants on June 14 but was put on hold by the last-minute ruling from the ECHR.

Under the agreement with Kigali, anyone landing in the UK illegally is liable to be given a one-way ticket for processing and resettlement in Rwanda.

British Home Secretary Priti Patel said she was disappointed that “legal challenge and last-minute claims” meant the plane did not take off but vowed to pursue the heavily criticised policy.

“We will not be deterred. Our legal team are reviewing every decision made on this flight and preparation for the next flight begins now,” she said.

“I have always said this policy will not be easy to deliver and am disappointed that legal challenge and last-minute claims have meant today’s flight was unable to depart,” Patel said.

“It is very surprising that the European Court of Human Rights has intervened despite repeated earlier success in our domestic courts.

“Many of those removed from this flight will be placed on the next,” Patel added.

The ECHR ruling had noted that at least one of the asylum seekers, an Iraqi man, should stay in Britain as there were no guarantees for his legal future in Rwanda.

But despite the cancellation of the flight, the UK government insists the policy is needed to “stop a flood of all-too-often deadly crossings of the Channel from France by refugees and migrants.”

“It’s very important that the criminal gangs who are putting people’s lives at risk in the Channel understand that their business model is going to be broken.

“They’re selling people falsely, luring them into something that is extremely risky and criminal,” Johnson had said in a radio interview on Monday.

Related Topics:Asylum Seekers Featured Rwanda UK

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Musings From Abroad

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

Published

4 minutes 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

16 minutes 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.