Andrew Mitchell has long-standing contacts in Rwanda. Photo: Eddie Mulholland for The Telegraph
Andrew Mitchell has been placed on standby for a flight to Rwanda to ensure compliance with the new deportation deal.
The Minister for Development and Africa at the Foreign Office has long-standing links and contacts in Rwanda dating back almost two decades.
Tory party sources said he was well placed to reassure the Rwandan government, which had been stung by the severity of the UK Supreme Court ruling that it was “unsafe” for claimants refuge.
“Andrew was put on standby to go there and use his contact book to sort the situation out,” one source said. “It’s not that the problems are insoluble. It’s just that Rwandans in general are very spoiled. They don't make things easy.”
Sir Matthew Rycroft, the permanent home secretary, told MPs on Wednesday that a team of government officials are currently in Rwanda seeking to “put the finishing touches” to the new treaty.
A legally binding treaty has been developed. to address Supreme Court criticism that there is a risk that asylum seekers deported from the UK will be returned to their home countries where they could be persecuted or tortured.
'Some steps need to be taken before the deal is agreed'
However, No 10's initial suggestions that it would be published 'within days' were replaced by statements that it would be 'within a few weeks' together with a new bill declaring Rwanda a safe country. Another Tory source said: “There is still some way to go before they agree a deal.”
Both sides deny the agreement is in jeopardy and say talks are progressing and are “cordial.” However, in a statement, the Rwandan government called criticism of its asylum system “unfounded.”
A Rwandan government source said: “Rwanda is a safe and welcoming country for asylum seekers and migrants, and criticism leveled at our country is unfounded .
“However, we are committed to providing those seeking security and opportunity with a home in Rwanda. That is why we are actively working with the UK government to develop the Memorandum of Understanding [the original agreement] into a treaty that will strengthen existing guarantees on issues of concern.”
The Rwandans are also believed to have been concerned about proposals that that Home Office officials could be sent to the country to help strengthen its asylum system. They have made it clear that they will not tolerate any encroachment on their sovereignty under any treaty.
Mr. Mitchell knows Rwanda well. He set up the Tories' largest overseas social action program there in 2007, was chairman of the all-party parliamentary group for the country and has a good relationship with its president Paul Kagame.
The Rwanda scheme is central. to the government's Illegal Migration Bill, which would give ministers powers to detain illegal migrants and deport them to a safe third country where they will claim asylum.
The UK has already given Rwanda £140 million to support more than just the deportation scheme. but also the economic development of the country. Sir Matthew hinted that more money could be offered in treaty negotiations this year.
The Supreme Court's criticism was harsh of Rwanda, citing a “poor” human rights record including extrajudicial killings , “serious and systematic” defects in the asylum system and an “inadequate” understanding of international refugee conventions.
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