Big changes are coming.
Rwanda has acknowledged that it is in preliminary discussions with the United States about potentially accepting individuals deported during the Trump administration. Olivier Nduhungirehe, Rwanda’s Foreign Affairs Minister, confirmed the dialogue in a recent interview, noting that while conversations are taking place, it is too early to predict the outcome.
This confirmation follows remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who stated that the U.S. is actively seeking countries willing to receive certain deportees. Rwanda, a small landlocked nation in East Africa, has prior experience hosting refugees and working with international partners on migration issues. It has collaborated with the United Nations to provide shelter for African migrants evacuated from Libya and has formed agreements with countries like Denmark and Israel to manage asylum cases.
In 2022, Rwanda also entered a controversial agreement with the United Kingdom to accept asylum seekers from third countries. That plan faced legal challenges and was ultimately ruled unlawful by the UK Supreme Court. Despite legislation passed by the British government to declare Rwanda a “safe country,” only a handful of people were relocated under the program before it was canceled by the new Labour government in 2024. The initiative cost the UK nearly $950 million, with Rwanda keeping the funds already transferred.
Reports from outlets such as The Handbasket and Reuters indicate that the U.S. has already deported at least one individual—an Iraqi refugee named Omar Abdulsattar Ameen—to Rwanda. However, this case was not mentioned by Nduhungirehe in his television appearance. The U.S. State Department has not offered detailed comments but emphasized that diplomatic engagement with foreign nations is critical to addressing illegal migration and enhancing border security.
These developments come amid broader U.S. diplomatic efforts to help resolve tensions between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The discussions with Rwanda are part of a wider strategy to manage migration challenges through international cooperation.
