Rwanda-UK deal on asylum-seekers draws mostly positive reactions
April 16, 2022, 7:23 am

Rwanda-UK deal on asylum-seekers draws mostly positive reactions

Rwanda-Kigali/Pixabay

The Xinhua reported, local reactions to a Rwanda-Britain deal to move asylum-seekers attempting to enter the United Kingdom to Rwanda for resettlement were mostly positive, with some expressing reservations.

The agreement was signed by British Home Secretary Priti Patel and Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, on Thursday (Apr 14).

Ismael Buchanan, senior lecturer at the Department of Political Science at the University of Rwanda, told Xinhua: "I believe welcoming asylum-seekers from the UK will change some people's views and negative comments about Rwanda's human rights record."

He said: "The choice of sending asylum-seekers to Rwanda has logic in it. First of all, look at how far Rwanda has managed to welcome and integrate migrants from different parts of the world, including from Libya, Eritrea, and Burundi."

Buchanan said: "This demonstrates Rwanda's hospitality."

The United Nations refugee agency said Thursday that it remains "firmly opposed to arrangements that seek to transfer refugees and asylum-seekers to third countries in the absence of sufficient safeguards and standards." (File photo: Pixabay)

According to the Xinhua, Rwanda hosts nearly 130,000 refugees from neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi, as well as Afghanistan, and migrants evacuated from Libya.

Buchanan said: "Rwanda has committed herself to protecting vulnerable people around the world and to offering safe haven to those in need. This is what Rwanda is all about."

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Noel Barakamfitiye, a businesswoman in Kigali, said the resettlement program would "somehow" meet the needs among the at-risk people trying to settle in the UK.

She told Xinhua: "I welcome Rwanda's efforts for those whose lives are in danger to be evacuated. Saving lives should be a priority."

The United Nations refugee agency said Thursday that it remains "firmly opposed to arrangements that seek to transfer refugees and asylum-seekers to third countries in the absence of sufficient safeguards and standards."

Buchanan, however, said the refugees in Rwanda "enjoy a conducive environment and their rights are protected under various international laws."

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Frederick Golooba-Mutebi, a researcher on politics and public affairs, described the uproar about the relocation plan as a "storm in a tea cup."

He said: "I think that Rwanda is capable of hosting the asylum-seekers from the UK. It is not like the asylum-seekers will be brought and locked up in jail; they will be hosted for as long as they wish to stay; those who don't want to stay will be free to leave."

Golooba-Mutebi underlined that those who criticize the relocation on the basis of Rwanda's human rights record are doing so "out of ignorance of what they are talking about."

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He said: "Why did no one make noise when Afghan refugees were brought to Rwanda or those from Libya? Several evacuees of various nationalities from Libya have been resettled to third countries; others are still in Rwanda. Can they produce a single refugee whose rights have been violated?"

The opposition Democratic Green Party of Rwanda said while it supports welcoming refugees who have chosen Rwanda as their first destination, it does not support receiving those who had chosen to go to the UK or other European countries.

The party said in a statement: "We think that rich countries including the UK should not shift their international obligation to receive refugees and transfer them to third countries, just because they have the money to influence and enforce their will," adding that the move is not sustainable.

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Rwandan Foreign Minister Biruta described the deal as a truly unique approach to addressing the global migration crisis by tackling root causes.

Rwanda and Britain have not mentioned how many asylum-seekers will be resettled, but under the five-year program, migrants from the UK will be integrated into communities across Rwanda, where they will be entitled to full protection under Rwandan law, equal access to employment, and enrolment in healthcare and social care services.

UK Home Secretary Patel said the relocation applies to illegal entrants to the UK who are exploited by criminal gangs to help them into Europe through desperate journeys.

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The British government said plan is aimed to end illegal people-smuggling across the English Channel.

Patel said that Britain is offering an upfront investment of 120 million pounds (156.9 million U.S. dollars) to facilitate the implementation of the agreement.

According to a joint statement, the funding will be injected into opportunities for the development of migrants and Rwandans in areas of secondary qualifications, vocational and skills training, language lessons, and higher education.

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The Xinhua noted that media reports said more than 28,000 migrants and refugees reached Britain from mainland Europe on boats last year.

Source: xinhua

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.