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 told a local radio station that discussions were ongoing and there was “no agreement yet.” She did not name the European countries involved.

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. She said families could later return to their countries of origin or be resettled elsewhere after applying for asylum.

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