By John Ikani
Prime Minister of Rwanda, Edouard Ngirente says the first batch of asylum seekers from the UK “will arrive soon” and that everything is ready to host them.
Edouard Ngirente told journalists on Wednesday evening that the pilot scheme was well-informed and intended.
The British government plans to fly asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing in an attempt to tackle small boat crossings in the Channel.
The English Channel, also called simply the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates Southern England from northern France and links to the southern part of the North Sea by the Strait of Dover at its northeastern end. It is the busiest shipping area in the world.
Under the $148m (£120m) scheme, some asylum seekers will be sent to the central African country during a five-year trial.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently revealed that 50 migrants had been told they will be the first to be sent to Rwanda.
“We are ready to host any number that will come,” Mr Ngirente told journalists.
Refugee organisations have criticised the plan as cruel. But Mr Ngirente said that “people will appreciate it once it will be done”.
Two opposition parties in Rwanda have said the government there should focus on problems facing Rwandans rather “than solving issues of a rich country”.
