Rwandan refugees came to Britain while Government was arguing that east African nation was safe for migrants

27 January 2024, 23:57 | Updated: 28 January 2024, 00:02

Four Rwandans were granted refuge from the east African state despite the Government arguing that it is a safe country to send asylum seekers to.
Four Rwandans were granted refuge from the east African state despite the Government arguing that it is a safe country to send asylum seekers to. Picture: Gettyq

By Chay Quinn

Four Rwandans were granted refuge from the east African state despite the Government arguing that it is a safe country to send asylum seekers to.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The findings by the Observer newspaper come as Rishi Sunak pushes forward with legislation aimed at declaring the country a safe destination for asylum seekers.

The details of the cases are in addition to the six people who Home Office figures suggest had UK asylum applications approved between April 2022 and September 2023, according to the Observer.

The report threatens to undermine the Prime Minister's position that Kigali is "unequivocally" safe - an argument which is central to his plan to revive the Government's flagship asylum policy.

BRITAIN-POLITICS-CONSERVATIVES
The findings by the Observer newspaper come as Rishi Sunak pushes forward with legislation aimed at declaring the country a safe destination for asylum seekers. Picture: Getty

One of the Rwandans was a supporter of an opposition party led by Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, the Observer reported.

He was reportedly granted asylum on October 12, the day after the Government concluded a case in the Supreme Court arguing the country was safe.

Another said he sought refuge in Britain because he feared he would be targeted by the regime over a family member's suspected links to the opposition.

A Home Office letter dated October 17 last year reportedly accepted he had a "well-founded fear of persecution".

It comes ahead of a crunch week for Mr Sunak's Rwanda Bill, which aims to prevent further legal challenge to transferring asylum seekers to the east African nation, as it gets debated in the House of Lords.

The Supreme Court last year ruled against the Government's plan to send people who arrive in Britain via small boat crossings in the English Channel to Kigali.

In a bid to save the policy, Mr Sunak has introduced legislation seeking to enable Parliament itself to deem Rwanda safe, as well as updating a treaty with the country.

Guests Attend BBC Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg Show in London
MPs on the right of the party largely backed down after speculation that the draft law could be torpedoed unless amendments were made, including to ensure UK and international law cannot be used to block a person's removal to the country. Picture: Getty

The Government says the new agreement guarantees that anyone sent to Kigali to claim asylum would not be transferred to a third country where they could be at risk - a principle known as non-refoulement.

Earlier this month, the Prime Minister's Safety of Rwanda Bill passed its third reading in the Commons after he saw of a Tory rebellion which had sought to harden the legislation.

MPs on the right of the party largely backed down after speculation that the draft law could be torpedoed unless amendments were made, including to ensure UK and international law cannot be used to block a person's removal to the country.

But the Bill will face a stiff test in the Lords, where many peers have already expressed deep unease about the asylum plan.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "People from many different nationalities apply for asylum in the UK. This includes nationals from some of our closest European neighbours and other safe countries around the world.

"As part of our response to the Supreme Court's judgment, we have signed a treaty with Rwanda which makes clear that individuals relocated to Rwanda under the partnership will not be returned to an unsafe country."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Keir Starmer

Keir Starmer pledges £3.5 million to support homeless veterans ahead of Remembrance Sunday

Donald Trump was inaugurated for the first time in January 2017

Which musical artists could perform at Trump's inauguration in January 2025?

Donald Trump has said he has no choice but to launch mass deportations

Trump says US 'has no choice but to deport illegal immigrants' en masse, as he starts to build top team

Prince William said the past year has been 'brutal'

Prince William says past year has been 'probably the hardest in his life' after Charles and Kate's cancer diagnoses

Ian Botham was saved from the crocodile by his former rival Merv Hughes

Ian Botham saved from crocodiles by former Australian cricket rival after falling into remote river

Sara Sharif was found dead

Sara Sharif’s ‘evil’ stepmum tied her up with packaging tape, father tells court

Three people have been charged in connection with the death of One Direction star Liam Payne

Three people charged in connection with death of One Direction star Liam Payne after he fell from hotel balcony

Mohammed Aslam and Mohammed Nazir have been jailed for their involvement in the 'hitwoman in a hijab' plot

Father and son jailed after hiring 'hitwoman in a hijab' for botched revenge killing in Birmingham

Kira Rudyk has warned against Trump's 'illusion' of negotiating with Putin over Ukraine

Putin congratulates 'brave' Trump on election victory as Ukrainian MP warns against 'illusion' of peace negotiations

Women are swearing off men following Donald Trump's election win.

American women are swearing off sex with men after Donald Trump's election victory

The HS2 chairman has defended the £100m cost of a bat shed

HS2 facing backlash after cost of 'bat shed' exceeds £100m

Exclusive
Andrew Bailey has warned against the fragmentation of the global economy

'Tariffs can fracture the global economy': Bank of England governor warns against trade barriers after Trump win

Two women were arrested after locking themselves to the Scottish Parliament in a climate protest

Climate activists arrested after locking on to Scottish Parliament

Gary Neville has been forced to close his Michelin star restaurant

Gary Neville's restaurant forced into liquidation with £1m debts

President Joe Biden addressed the nation for the first time since the election

Biden pledges 'peaceful transition of power' as he promises to work with Trump in last days of administration

Dylan Willis who has been freed by the Court of Appeal

Teenager jailed after unrest to be released as court of appeal alters sentence