Johnson's plan for refugees in the UK: Rwanda to become the "dreamland"
April 17, 2022, 12:23 pm

Johnson's plan for refugees in the UK: Rwanda to become the

Zara Saleh1

Boris Johnson's government plan for people who cross the Channel and illegally enter the UK and seek refugee will be "granted" one-way ticket to Rwanda's land, even despite the human rights issues in the country. Added to that, Rwanda authorities have the right to only accept people who have no criminal record with unlimited number of refugees who will be relocated to Rwanda.

A new deal has been signed recently in Rwanda's capital Kigali between the Home Office Priti Patel and the Rwandan government during her last visit. The agreement will take place this year and include other asylum seekers' cases from 2021 as well for adults who are crossing the English Channel and entering the UK by boats, train, and plane. The scheme plan for those who will be relocated to Rwanda and, then, seeking refugees there will not be expected to return back to the UK. Furthermore, once those people are leaving the UK territories, their cases as asylum seekers will be the Rwandan government's responsibility without any right to return to the UK. Of course, in Rwanda, those people can apply for refugee status in Rwanda. During their stay or "resettlement" in Rwanda, while claiming asylum seekers there will be offered accommodation in hostels and refugees will be under the Rwandan immigration rules. In other words, their fate will be in the hand of the Rwandan government regarding the immigration law. For instance, people who seeking refugees there could be deported if the Rwandan authorities found a criminal record, and eventually, they can be sent to the country of origin.

At a glance at the agreement that has been signed by the Home Office with the Rwandan authorities, the Johnsons scheme program will cost Britain around £120 million as an integration fund and support to implement the plan and would “save countless lives” as the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. Moreover, in 2021, more than 28,000 people have crossed the English Channel and the figure per daily crossing the Channel could reach around one thousand this year, according to UK officials. However, the Prime Minister's plan has been criticised by refugee organisations in the Uk, human rights organisations regarding the deal with the Rwandan government, and the concerns about Rwanda's human rights issues as well. Johson's plan was under critics from the UK opposition as well, as the Labour leader Keir Starmer criticised Tory's plan as "unworkable and extortionate". Whereas, some other politicians described Johnson's scheme as "evil and inhumane" and also it has been criticised even by some conservative’s leaders.

Consequently, such a plan to send people to Rwanda, could not be the right plan and decision to solve the ongoing refugee crisis and the government should search to address the roots of the refugee problems instead of sending those people to the poorest developing countries such as Rwanda who already are suffering human right issues and discrimination.

BY: Zara Saleh

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”