The UK's bill for its yet-to-be-realised plan for sending refugees to Rwanda is now up to R5.7 billion. The Rwanda scheme is at the centre of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's strategy to deter illegal migrants but as yet none have been moved there because of legal battles since the scheme was announced in 2022. The money sent to Rwanda would help its economic development and get the asylum partnership with the UK up and running, Pursglove added. The payments to Rwanda were not linked to a treaty the two countries signed on Tuesday, the interior ministry letter said. "The Government of Rwanda did not ask for any payment in order for a Treaty to be signed, nor was any offered," the letter said.

Source: News 24 December 08, 2023 14:59 UTC