Amidst soaring unemployment rates and a housing crisis, numerous Rwandans are expressing apprehension regarding the $272 million UK migrant agreement, which has drawn criticism from human rights organizations. In Kigali, Rwanda’s lush landscapes mask the controversies swirling around two proposed sites that could soon accommodate hundreds of individuals who never envisioned settling in Rwanda.
In the northern outskirts of Kigali, Hope Hostel occupies a commanding position atop a hill, overlooking the capital. Meanwhile, in the southwest, Bwiza Riverside Estate boasts manicured green spaces, fenced boundaries, and small parcels of land, creating the illusion of a charming suburban enclave, albeit one tinged with a sense of sterility and artificiality.
Rwanda’s government has designated these two locations to receive asylum seekers anticipated to be transferred from the United Kingdom as part of a £220 million ($272 million) agreement aimed at relocating refugees who arrive on British shores to the East African nation.
Following months of debate and amid concerns over the human rights ramifications of the agreement, the UK Parliament approved the bill late on Monday, paving the way for its imminent enactment despite a litany of challenges related to feasibility, cost, legality, and ongoing criticism from refugee rights advocates.
The environs around Hope Hostel on the outskirts of Kigali teem with street vendors, motorcycle taxis, and grand villas. Managed by Ismael Bakina, the hostel boasts 50 double rooms, capable of accommodating up to 100 guests.
Originally serving a different purpose, the hostel housed survivors of the 1994 genocide until two years ago, when it was vacated without provision of alternative housing following a visit by former UK Home Secretary Priti Patel in 2022, which was tightly controlled.
Currently sitting vacant, the hostel stands poised to welcome asylum seekers once the UK’s political process reaches a definitive conclusion, according to Bakina, who confirmed its readiness to receive occupants upon the commencement of flights.