Rwanda says Europe migration talks have no deal yet

Rwanda's government says it has held initial migration talks with some European countries, but that no agreement has been reached.

Government spokesperson Yolande Makolo, asked by Rwanda's Royal FM radio station about a possible agreement with Italy, said discussions were continuing but there was “no agreement yet.”

Makolo said the broad talks concerned an “emergency transit mechanism.” She said Rwanda could provide “a safe place” for families who are stranded, have nowhere else to go or are in danger for various reasons. She said families could later return to their countries of origin or be resettled in another country after applying for asylum.

Makolo later confirmed to AFP that Rwanda had held “some initial discussions with some European countries but nothing has been decided.” She said the discussions related to Rwanda's “general approach and experience on the migration issue.”

The talks follow tougher migration rules approved by European lawmakers in June, including provisions enabling countries to open “return hubs” outside the EU's borders for migrants with no right to stay.

They also come after tens of thousands of people crossed into Spain's north African enclave of Ceuta, which borders Morocco. Most of those who crossed later returned to Morocco, and the episode prompted calls by right-wing European leaders for tougher border controls.

The discussions recall Rwanda's earlier agreement with the United Kingdom under the former Conservative government. Under that plan, Rwanda agreed to take migrants who had arrived in Britain via “dangerous or illegal journeys.” The deal was scrapped after Labour took power, and Kigali recently lost a $135 million court challenge over that decision.

Human Rights Watch says Rwanda is also among African countries that have agreed to receive people deported from the United States, reportedly in exchange for a million-dollar aid deal.