Rwanda opposition leader urges UK to ditch £240m migrant deal amid fears

16 December 2023 , 21:41

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Rwandan opposition leader Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

A Rwandan opposition leader is urging the UK to ditch its migrants deal, warning her nation has mismanaged finances in the past.

Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, who served eight years in jail for challenging Rwanda’s dictatorship, raised the alarm as it emerged the UK had sent £100million extra as part of the scheme. A further £50m is expected to be paid – and no migrants have yet been moved there.

Ms Umuhoza said the deal, which has cost us £240m so far, must be safeguarded. Official Rwandan figures show the country lost £4m to mismanagement in the year to June 30, 2022 – more than double the previous year and £106,000 of which was fraudulently diverted.

Rwandan president Paul Kagame's son Ivan (centre) (Getty Images)

Ms Umuhoza, 52, said: “The auditor general has found mismanagement of public funds many times. We don’t know if this money will be mismanaged but it has happened before.”

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has jailed other opponents, including YouTubers and journalists. His son Ivan was appointed to the regime-run Rwanda Development Board in 2020 and reportedly moved into a £5.4m house in Beverly Hills, LA, in 2021. He was also snapped wearing what was said to be a £263,000 Richard Mille watch.

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There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Mr Kagame or his family. But Ms Umuhoza pointed out Rwanda is not affluent, adding: “The British Government should drop this plan. Rwanda is poor, refugees cannot find a job here. We have nothing to offer. I’m sure the refugees will not stay here.”

Human Rights Watch slammed the 2012 jailing of DALFA-Umurinzi party leader Ms Umuhoza – who is pro-democracy – for conspiracy against Rwanda through terrorism and war and genocide denial as “flawed” and “politically motivated”. She added: “Rwanda is not a free country for refugees. We have journalists and YouTubers in prison for challenging the narrative.” The Home Office said: “The Government is committed to doing whatever it takes to stop the boats and get flights to Rwanda off the ground.”

Matthew Dresch