Five EU states plan Rwanda center
Austria, Germany, Greece, Denmark, and the Netherlands prepared to sign an agreement in Vienna to establish a pilot center in Rwanda for rejected asylum seekers, Politico reported.
The facility is intended for individuals who have exhausted all legal residency options within the European Union and received final deportation orders. Participating nations initially stated they would finalize the first such agreements in 2026 and launch operations the following year.
Rwanda will host only individuals facing definitive refusal decisions. These migrants will remain in the East African nation while the participating governments arrange their returns to countries of origin.
Five European countries plan pilot center in Gashora
Diplomatic sources told Agence France-Presse that the center will start as a pilot project housing about 100 people. Each of the five participating countries will likely send roughly 20 migrants.
Under consideration as a site is the transit center in Gashora, situated about 60 kilometers from the capital of Kigali. That location has housed migrants evacuated from Libya since 2019.
Delegates from the five European nations visited Rwanda in September to inspect potential locations. Kigali officials confirmed that discussions are continuing.
“We want to be part of the solution to a global problem,” Yolande Makolo, a spokesperson for the Rwandan government, told a local radio station, according to Politico. The precise compensation Rwanda will receive in exchange for hosting the center remains unclear.
New EU regulation permits third country holding centers
The legal foundation rests on the new EU return regulation agreed upon in June between member states and the European Parliament. The rule allows agreements with third countries for such holding centers for the first time, provided those facilities respect international human rights standards and the principle of non-refoulement.
The concept of transferring asylum seekers to Rwanda mirrors previous international initiatives. The High Court of the United Kingdom declared the conservative government’s plan to send asylum seekers there unlawful in 2023.
Denmark passed a domestic law in 2021 permitting the transfer of asylum seekers outside Europe and signed a memorandum of understanding with Rwanda, though that initial project was later frozen.
Questions about the Rwanda migrant center funding and capacity
Which countries are funding and organizing the Rwanda migrant center?
Austria, Germany, Greece, Denmark, and the Netherlands are spearheading the pilot project. Representatives from the five states have also participated in talks with Rwandan officials.
How many people will the pilot center hold initially?
Diplomatic sources indicate the project will launch with approximately 100 individuals. Each of the five participating European governments is expected to contribute about 20 rejected asylum seekers.
What legal mechanism permits these external transfer centers?
The project relies on the new EU return regulation agreed upon in June. The legislation permits third-country processing hubs under strict conditions requiring adherence to international human rights standards.