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Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe on Sunday told
state media that the talks were in the “early stage.” When asked
by The Associated Press on Monday, he confirmed the talks.
Nduhungirehe did not disclose the specifics of the potential
deal for Rwanda, but previous local media reports suggest that
the U.S would likely fund a program to have migrants integrated
into the society through stipends and job assistance
initiatives.
The U.S. State Department declined to comment on a potential
deal with Rwanda, but said that engagement with foreign
governments is an important part of the U.S. government’s policy
to deter illegal migration.
This wouldn't be Rwanda's first time hosting deported migrants.
The East African nation previously had an agreement with the
U.K. to host migrants. Plans for the initiative, including
prepared accommodations, were in the final stages but the deal
collapsed after the Labour Party took office in 2024.
Rwanda has faced allegations of human rights abuses and is
currently in the process of brokering a peace deal with the
neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo where Rwanda-backed M23
rebels have been behind attacks in the mineral rich eastern
Congo region.
Nduhungirehe told state media on Sunday that Rwanda and Congo
had already submitted their respective draft proposals, which
will form the basis of a final peace agreement document expected
to be signed in the U.S next month.
The minister said the migrant deal between Rwanda and the U.S
was consistent with Rwanda’s long-standing commitment to
humanitarian cooperation and the pursuit of migration solutions.
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