A statement released by the Prime Minister's office on Sunday, July 28, indicated that the two leaders discussed their mutual commitment to addressing illegal migration.
'They acknowledged that illegal migration remains a pressing global challenge and emphasized the importance of dismantling the business model of criminal gangs profiting from human suffering,' the statement reads in part.
Illegal migration was a major challenge for the previous administration of Rishi Sunak and his predecessors in the Conservative Party. It remains a significant issue for the new administration as well.
Early this month, Starmer announced that he was terminating the UK-Rwanda Migration and Economic Development Partnership.
The agreement, signed in December 2023, stipulated that asylum seekers arriving illegally in the UK would be transferred to Rwanda, where their claims would be processed.
In response to the intention to terminate the deal, the Rwandan government highlighted its adherence to the agreement.
"Rwanda has fully upheld its side of the agreement, including with regard to finances, and remains committed to finding solutions to the global migration crisis,' said the office of the Government Spokesperson.
With the new leadership in the UK, the future of migration policies and international partnerships remains uncertain. However, the commitment demonstrated by both Starmer and Kagame to address global challenges collaboratively sets a hopeful tone for ongoing and future cooperation between the two nations.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
