Rwanda Resettlement Scheme: Shifting the Burden

Abstract

This paper examines Africa’s evolving role as a preferred destination for external migrants, specifi cally highlighting Rwanda’s emergence as a hub for resettling illegal refugees and failed asylum seekers from select Western European countries. Despite Africa’s atypical status as a migrant hotspot, there has been a rise in refugees and asylum seekers arriving on the continent. Notably, Rwanda, which traditionally has not hosted such migrants until 2016, has become an unexpected choice. This study analyzes why Rwanda, a country with limited economic power, has taken on the responsibility of processing and transferring asylum seekers as outlined in recent bilateral agreements with the UK and Denmark. The research examines alternative motivations to Rwanda’s presumed altruistic or fi nancial intentions, including political leverage and the acquisition of lowcost labor skills. By shedding light on Rwanda’s motivations, this paper contributes to a deeper understanding of migration and resettlement dynamics in a changing global landscape.