By John Ikani
The UK High Commissioner to Rwanda, Omar Daair, has disowned a memo sent to the Home Office advising against any asylum deal with the country.
The memo had criticised Rwanda’s human rights record and heavy-handed security, according to documents from the Home Office presented to court by lawyers for those challenging the policy.
On Wednesday Mr Daair said the memo was written by his predecessor – two months before he began in the post.
“There have been media stories regarding our partnership with Rwanda and documents written in February and May 2021. I became High Commissioner in July 2021,” Mr Daair tweeted.
“Regardless, it is normal for UK officials to brief Ministers during the course of policy development,” he continued.
There have been media stories regarding our partnership with Rwanda and documents written in February and May 2021. I became High Commissioner in July 2021. Regardless, it is normal for UK officials to brief Ministers during the course of policy development. (1/2)
— Omar Daair (@omardaair) July 20, 2022
Britain announced in April an agreement with Rwanda to send some of its migrants there for processing instead, but no-one has yet been flown out because of a series of legal challenges.
