Rwanda’s agreement to accept deportees from the United States has come under fire from Amnesty International, which warns the arrangement could breach international law and place vulnerable migrants at risk. Amnesty’s Senior Campaigner Christian Rumu said the deal carries a serious risk of refoulement — the forced return of asylum seekers to countries where they could face persecution — in violation of the 1951 Refugee Convention. “That risk was present in Rwanda’s deal with the UK, and it still exists now,” said Rumu. He also criticized Rwanda’s asylum appeal process, saying that although legal reforms were introduced in 2024, they remain untested and insufficient.
Human Rights Record Under Scrutiny
Rwanda has repeatedly defended its capacity to host migrants, but its human rights record has raised alarm among advocacy groups. Reports have cited deaths in custody, extrajudicial killings of exiled dissidents, and the abduction of a U.S. resident from Dubai in 2021, who was later released after intervention by the Biden administration.Rwan dan officials have denied these allegations, describing them as politically motivated. Nevertheless, rights groups argue the government’s track record undermines confidence in its ability to guarantee migrant safety and due process.
Regional Instability and Political Motives
Critics also point to Rwanda’s military involvement in eastern Congo, where UN investigators have linked Kigali to armed rebels that recently captured key towns. The violence in the mineral-rich region has sparked international concern and led to aid cuts and diplomatic strains with several Western countries. Some analysts suggest Rwanda’s willingness to host U.S. deportees may be a geopolitical strategy to restore its global image. The Trump administration, which previously sanctioned a Rwandan minister over alleged rebel ties, is currently seeking to broker peace in the region. Closer cooperation on migration could bolster Rwanda’s standing in Washington.
Past Migration Deals Offer Clues
Rwanda previously partnered with the UN refugee agency to house African migrants evacuated from Libyan detention centers. As of late 2024, over 2,400 people had passed through its 700-person transit facility in Kigali, intended as a short-term shelter until permanent resettlement could be arranged. A UK-Rwanda asylum deal signed in 2022 — later ruled unlawful by British courts — included a promise to process claims within 90 days, allow migrants to remain or return voluntarily, and cover resettlement costs for five years. Rwanda has not confirmed if similar terms apply to its agreement with the United States.
