Rwanda welcomed 184 immigrants from three countries through the Emergency Transit Mechanism on Wednesday, March 27.
In a statement, the Ministry in charge of Emergency Management announced that 92 asylum seekers are from Libya, 57 are from Eritrea, and 35 originate from Sudan.
The evacuation of these immigrants was carried out in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
“Today, in collaboration with UNHCR, Rwanda welcomed 92 asylum seekers from Libya, along with 57 from Eritrea and 35 from Sudan, through the Emergency Transit Mechanism,” the ministry wrote on X.
Since 2019, the UNHCR has evacuated 2,242 people, with over 1,600 successfully resettled in third countries.
More immigrants are expected to settle in Rwanda in the coming years following the country’s agreement to accept persons denied entry into the United Kingdom.
Rwanda and the UK signed the Migration and Economic Development Partnership in April 2022.
During the signing of the deal, the two partners did not disclose the actual numbers of asylum seekers to be relocated, but officials suggested that any male migrant caught trying to enter UK territory illegally by boat or hiding in vehicles would be sent to Rwanda.
In March 2024, UK authorities announced that the government would offer failed asylum seekers up to £3,000 (Rwf4,866,727) to move to Rwanda under the new voluntary scheme.
