The Rwandan government has announced the creation of a dedicated court aimed at handling legal issues related to refugees and asylum seekers. This move is part of the revised Rwanda-UK asylum agreement, which is currently being examined by the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs, cooperation, and security.
Justice Minister Emmanuel Ugirashebuja and Clementine Mukeka, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, disclosed the development on February 26 during a session with the foreign affairs committee. The special court, set to be operational under the updated Rwanda-UK treaty, will focus on cases involving immigrants who entered the UK illegally.
A Rwandan judge, in collaboration with counterparts from Commonwealth countries and experts in refugee and human rights law from around the world, will oversee the proceedings of the new court. According to Mukeka, the court’s primary goal is to ensure equitable and fair treatment for all asylum seekers, regardless of their nationality. “Our aim is to comprehensively assist asylum seekers, avoiding any preferential treatment based on their country of origin,” Mukeka stated.
Alice Muzana, Vice Chair of the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and Security Commission, expressed optimism about the effective implementation of the treaty. Minister Ugirashebuja reaffirmed Rwanda’s dedication to fulfilling the agreement’s terms with the UK and cited instances of Rwandan courts upholding justice by overturning decisions from administrative bodies, underscoring the judiciary’s independence and commitment to fairness.
