Rwanda confirms talks with EU states on deportation centers

Rwanda has confirmed that it is engaged in discussions with Germany and four other European Union member states concerning the potential establishment of deportation centers within its borders. Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe stated that "visits have indeed taken place and negotiations are ongoing," confirming reports from German media outlets Der Spiegel and Report Mainz.

The initiative, reportedly involving a group calling themselves "the implementers", which includes Germany, Austria, Denmark, Greece, and the Netherlands, aims to identify a non-European country to host individuals whose asylum applications have been rejected by the EU. The goal is to find a partner country by the end of the year. Italy has also expressed interest in a similar agreement with Rwanda.

These proposed facilities, known as "return hubs," would serve as temporary accommodations for rejected asylum seekers before they are repatriated. The EU Parliament and member states recently agreed on a new return directive that facilitates the creation of such centers in third countries outside the EU. A potential location mentioned is a transit center in Gashora, approximately 60 kilometers from the capital, Kigali, which has housed migrants stranded in Libya since 2019.

Rwanda has prior experience with such agreements, having concluded a deal with the former British government in 2022 to host irregular migrants. However, that agreement was terminated in 2024 following a UK Supreme Court ruling that deemed the plan unlawful. Human rights organizations, such as Pro Asyl, have voiced strong criticism of these deportation center plans, accusing German officials of planning "deportation camps outside of rule-of-law conditions" and endangering lives.

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The visits have indeed taken place and negotiations are ongoing.