As a recent arrival in the UK, I’ve watched with interest how the British media have covered the UK-Rwanda Migration Partnership. Sadly, much of what I’ve seen has given a distinctly distorted view of my country, doubting our capabilities to provide safety and opportunity to those in need, and questioning our motives.
As the new High Commissioner to the UK, it’s my job to give a voice to the Rwandan people and explain why our country is exactly the right choice of partner for this innovative initiative.
Because of our history, Rwanda has a deep connection to those seeking safety and opportunity in a new land. This experience has shaped our national approach to migration and asylum issues and has made Rwanda one of the most welcoming nations in the world, supporting those in need no matter where they come from. This stands in stark contrast to the false image painted by our critics.
Critics such as Giles Foden willingly promulgate misinformation about Rwanda to advance their own agendas. In his recent Guardian piece, Foden chooses to quote an overnight ‘expert’ on Rwanda, who is far from the credible source he claims she is. He also chooses to highlight the case of Paul Rusesabagina, a man convicted of terror offences along with 20 others, to back up his outrageous suggestion that the UK is doing a ‘devils’ bargain’ with President Kagame.
Foden knows the facts of this case. He knows that Rusesabagina recruited genocidaires and others into an armed group which then carried out deadly attacks in Rwanda, killing nine and maiming many more. He also knows that in 2008, a Westminster Magistrates court proved Rusesabagina’s links to the Hutu Power movement (who were responsible for the genocide). He also clearly didn’t watch the live stream of the extensive trial of Rusesabagina and his co-accused, as he would have seen justice being done in a fair and transparent way. For Rwandans, this case is remembered for bringing justice to the victims of a terrorist attacks, though these victims don’t even get a mention.
Foden makes numerous other farcical allegations, including the suggestion that Rwanda can’t be trusted to spend the UK’s money, when Rwanda is one of the least corrupt countries in the world. But one of the most egregious claims is that we have a poor history of supporting migrants – when overwhelming evidence points to the contrary.
Foden’s Rwanda is not a country I recognise. It contradicts the lived experience of Rwandans, and those who settle here, such as Colonel Dr. Nesar Ahmed Hamraz and his family. But it also runs counter to the assessment of the international community who see Rwanda as an important and trusted partner in supporting those fleeing conflict.
Our track record speaks for itself. Rwanda already provides refuge for almost 130,000 refugees from neighbours like the DRC and Burundi, as well as Afghanistan and migrants evacuated from Libya. For the Libya programme, Rwanda partnered with the UNHCR who’s acting Chief of Mission said at the time: “These evacuation flights out of Libya continue to provide hope and safety to refugees and asylum seekers trapped in Libya”. It is hard to believe the UNHCR, or the African Union (with whom we work with to support displaced people as a signatory to the Kampala Convention) would have worked with us on these humanitarian efforts, if we were the country the likes of Foden claim we are.
What sets Rwanda’s history apart from many other nations is that much of our most significant historical events have happened in the past few decades: from the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994, to Rwanda’s rebirth and transformation over the past 28 years. This development has been built on simple priorities of restoring security and safety and offering opportunity to all Rwandans.
After much work, the country is now often ranked as one of the safest nations in the world. Our economy has grown consistently allowing us to significantly reduce our poverty rate and create opportunities for our people. Gender empowerment has been at the heart of our growth and development, and we now have the highest rate of women in Parliament in the world and a proud record of women leading in the public and private sectors. We also take our international responsibilities seriously, with Rwanda working with fellow nations to address the biggest issues the world faces – including climate change (Rwanda banned plastic bags back in 2008 and is now aiming to be the world’s first plastic-free country) and, of course, migration.
There’s no doubt that we are a work in progress. Every country is. But the Rwanda of today is unrecognisable from the country many of us know in 1994. To fail to even acknowledge this progress when talking about our nation is to fail to tell our true story. And to distort our history misrepresent the reality that Rwanda is committed to international initiatives to provide safety to those in need, such as the migration Partnership, because of our lived experience.
While everyone is entitled to express their opinions about the partnership, I ask that people desist from spreading misinformation about Rwanda, as that doesn’t make for a meaningful debate.
The writer is Rwanda’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom
By Johnston Busingye
