Rwanda has agreed to accept up to 250 migrants deported from the United States, reinforcing its growing role as a destination for individuals Western countries seek to remove.
“Rwanda has agreed with the United States to accept up to 250 migrants, in part because nearly every Rwandan family has experienced the hardships of displacement, and our societal values are founded on reintegration and rehabilitation,” said government spokesperson Yolande Makolo.
Under the agreement, signed in Kigali this June, Rwanda retains the right to approve each individual proposed for resettlement. Approved migrants will receive workforce training, healthcare, and housing support to help them restart their lives and contribute to one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies.
According to Reuters, Washington has already submitted an initial list of 10 individuals for vetting.
Third-Country Deportations
The move aligns with former President Donald Trump’s push to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. His administration has expanded efforts to send deportees to third countries, including South Sudan and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), often targeting individuals with criminal convictions.
In May, Rwanda confirmed it had entered early-stage talks with the US about accepting deported immigrants. Critics of third-country deportations argue the policy is inhumane and risky, as individuals may be sent to unfamiliar nations where they lack family, community ties, or language skills.
In June, the US Supreme Court permitted the Trump administration to proceed with third-country deportations without allowing migrants to demonstrate potential risks they might face.
Rwanda’s Growing Global Role
Over the past decade, Rwanda has earned praise from both Western and African leaders for its economic transformation under President Paul Kagame. Once devastated by the 1994 genocide, the country has emerged as a regional hub for development and diplomacy.
Rwanda has also taken part in US-led peace talks aimed at ending conflict in eastern Congo. In June, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo signed a US-brokered peace deal in Washington, offering hope amid ongoing violence that has displaced hundreds of thousands and claimed many lives this year.
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