All posts tagged: Rwanda

Jet-Skis in Rwanda. Bodies Ashore in Congo.

Jet-Skis in Rwanda. Bodies Ashore in Congo.

Published by Sam

On one side of the lake, lovers glide on canoes, friends ride jet-skis and families pose for pictures in the hazy sunset. On the other side, less than two miles away, dead bodies washed ashore while ammunition and discarded weapons littered the water. The shore of Lake Kivu in Rwanda offers leisure and relaxation. Across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the same lake displayed devastation and misery after an armed group called M23 captured the lakeside city of Goma last month. Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the January offensive, according to the United Nations. “It is peaceful here, unlike over there,” said Exauce Shalako, a 20-year-old man from Goma who was lounging on the shore of Lake Kivu in Rwanda one afternoon this month. Mr. Shalako, who said he had lost a friend in the fighting, had crossed into Rwanda for a day at the beach. “We need to unwind, to have a change of scene,” he said. But while Rwanda appears peaceful at home, it is fueling war across the …

The Rwanda bill effect – Politics Weekly UK – podcast | Politics

The Rwanda bill effect – Politics Weekly UK – podcast | Politics

Published by skeptic

The government’s safety of Rwanda bill finally passed into law in April. But, with the announcement last week of a general election, the Conservative ‘dream’ of deportation flights taking off might never happen. So what has the bill achieved? And what does it mean for those it has targeted? The Guardian’s John Harris hears what life is really like for migrants in the UK How to listen to podcasts: everything you need to know Source link

‘I’m frightened’: the asylum seekers rounded up to be sent to Rwanda | Immigration and asylum

‘I’m frightened’: the asylum seekers rounded up to be sent to Rwanda | Immigration and asylum

Published by skeptic

When Helen arrived at Yarl’s Wood immigration removal centre, she was taken to her cell and handed some cleaning spray and wipes and told to use them before making up her bed. She had no idea why she had been arrested when she went to report. “They told me I had been detained for Rwanda and tried to convince us to go voluntarily saying it is now the law and we have already been selected. But they didn’t explain to me why I had been chosen.” “There were about seven of us women detained and we all tried our best not to think about being put on a plane and tried to support each other.” She said that materials promoting the east African country were visible around the centre and made everyone feel more terrified. “The walls in this place are tall and horrible and scary. I had never been detained before and knowing that the Home Office can take me to the airport and put me on a plane at any time was terrifying. …

Starmer would halt Rwanda flights immediately under Labour government | Politics News

Starmer would halt Rwanda flights immediately under Labour government | Politics News

Published by skeptic

No deportation flights to Rwanda will take off under a Labour government, Sir Keir Starmer has told Sky News. The Labour leader told Sky News political editor Beth Rigby “there’ll be no flights” as he wants to “scrap the scheme”, which aims to send asylum seekers entering the UK illegally from a safe country, such as France, to Rwanda. Earlier in the day Sir Keir confirmed Labour wanted to get rid of the Conservatives’ flagship scheme to reduce illegal immigration but a party spokesman said they would not stop flights already planned. Follow latest:Starmer sets out small boats plan But Sir Keir told Sky News: “There’ll be no flights. I want to scrap the scheme so that means the flights won’t be going. “There will be no flights scheduled or taking off after the general election if Labour wins that general election. “No flights, no Rwanda scheme, it’s a gimmick, it’s very expensive, it won’t work.” Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:30 Migrants arrive in Dover Sir Keir earlier announced …

Ox Delivers more sustainably than ever in Rwanda

Ox Delivers more sustainably than ever in Rwanda

Published by skeptic

OX Delivers, the Leamington-Spa based e-mobility b2b goods transport start-up making logistics much carbon efficient across the Global South, has delivered its strongest first quarter financial performance to date. The company generated $262,000 revenue in the first three months of the year, as well as scaling EV operations in Rwanda. During the first three months of 2024, the OX Delivers completed 258 zero tail-pipe emission journeys covering more than 18,000km, providing reliable, affordable transport-as-a-service and transforming the lives of thousands of people in Rwanda by delivering their produce to market in a highly efficient manner. Demand has completely exceeded expectations since the start of service operations in Rwanda in 2021. Today, OX Delivers supports more than 4,000 customers, ranging from the Bank of Rwanda to smallholder farmers and traders. 80 per cent of orders come from repeat customers. Simon Davis, Founder and CEO of OX Delivers, said: “2024 is an exciting year for OX Delivers as we continue to scale our operations in Rwanda and launch our next-generation electric truck.  “OX Delivers is enabling our customers …

Boris Johnson’s Ex-Wife Slams ‘Damaging’ Effect Of Rwanda Act

Boris Johnson’s Ex-Wife Slams ‘Damaging’ Effect Of Rwanda Act

Published by Sam

Boris Johnson’s ex-wife has cast serious doubt on one of his flagship policies, the controversial plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. The Conservative government, now led by Rishi Sunak, pushed to get the Rwanda bill passed into law – but it comes with major risks. Marina Wheeler KC – currently a workplace harassment adviser to Labour – said on Tuesday that the ongoing legal challenges to the scheme are “of concern”. Channel 4 News’ Cathy Newman asked the barrister if the government’s decision to ignore the courts’ fears around the act damaged the UK’s “reputation of legal probity”. Wheeler said she still thinks the country is a “beacon of legal probity”, but added: “The new [Rwanda] act doesn’t abide by the Supreme Court’s rulings, and I think that is very damaging. “An act that says we should ignore the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights is also very damaging.” The ECHR declared the deportation plan was unlawful in June 2022, and said British judges needed to examine the arguments against it more …

‘Nightmares about Rwanda’: Iranian asylum seeker facing deportation from UK | Immigration and asylum

‘Nightmares about Rwanda’: Iranian asylum seeker facing deportation from UK | Immigration and asylum

Published by skeptic

Roozbeh*, 34, is a civil engineer from Iran. He fled his country fearing for his life after the government found out he had converted from Islam to Christianity. He arrived in the UK in December 2022, has received a notice of intent to be sent to Rwanda and fears that he could be arrested and detained at any moment. “When I crossed the border from Iran into Turkey I stepped into the unknown. I had never left my country before and I knew the journey was going to be very dangerous. I was put into lorry after lorry and did not know what countries I passed through. “The smugglers spoke to us in English and said we had to do whatever they told us to do. I think they were speaking Turkish and Kurdish [to each other]. They were really aggressive. “The journey to France took about 21 days but it was hard to know the difference between day and night in the lorries and it felt like 200 days. “The smugglers told us to …

Home Office faces fallout from Rwanda roundup as asylum seekers hide or flee | Home Office

Home Office faces fallout from Rwanda roundup as asylum seekers hide or flee | Home Office

Published by skeptic

The Home Office is dealing with growing fallout from the high-profile roundups of asylum seekers it wants to send to Rwanda, as some have gone into hiding while others have fled across the border to Ireland. Officials began rounding up asylum seekers to detain them for the Rwanda scheme a week ago, with at least one now on hunger strike and another threatening suicide. While the government has disseminated its message widely about detaining people for Rwanda, it is not clear whether officials had anticipated that some asylum seekers would go into hiding and others would go to Ireland. Lou Calvey, the director of the charity Asylum Matters, said: “Frontline asylum charities report people leaving their asylum accommodation in order to avoid arrest. They are raising the alarm about the increasing risks of destitution and exploitation.” Asylum seekers who have attended regular reporting sessions at centres around the UK have said that they had never seen things so quiet. “I walked right in and didn’t have to queue at all. In all the years I’ve …