Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the President of Rwanda Paul Kagame pose for the media, ahead of their meeting inside 10 Downing Street in London, Britain April 9, 2024
As per a readout of their meeting on Tuesday, Rwandan President Paul Kagame and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak are excited about the first flights under Britain’s plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, which are scheduled to travel in the spring.
Although legal obstacles have so far kept anyone from being transported there, Sunak wants to send the thousands of asylum seekers who come to Britain each year on small boats to Rwanda.
Sunak’s office released the following statement after Sunak and Kagame met in London: “Both leaders looked forward to flights departing to Rwanda in the spring.”
Sunak expects that new legislation will allow the government to return asylum seekers to the east African nation if they enter the country without authorization, but before any flight can leave, it must be cleared by the British government.
The following day of parliament debate is April 15, when legislation aimed at preventing further court challenges to the scheme will be discussed.
Prior to the anticipated national election in the latter part of this year, Sunak has previously stated that he anticipates the first flights to depart in the spring.