The Dutch government revived plans to send failed asylum seekers to Uganda, two cabinet ministers confirmed. Foreign Trade Minister Reinette Klever and Asylum Minister Marjolein Faber outlined their blueprint to establish Uganda as a “return hub” for migrants who have run out of legal options to stay in the Netherlands.
The Netherlands intends to move ahead with the treaty despite European rules barring deportation without consent. Dutch officials stated their “innovative” approach would uphold existing legislation, including human rights conventions.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs backs the plan to prevent failed asylum seekers from vanishing underground.
Prime Minister Dick Schoof learned of the initiative at the last minute but backed it as an innovative solution. Coalition partners PVV, BBB, and NSC have thrown their weight behind the plan, while the VVD’s stance remains unclear. Opposition parties D66 and GroenLinks-PvdA reject the proposal outright.
Uganda’s Regional Role Grows More Complex
As Uganda weighs hosting Dutch migrants, the country finds itself entangled in escalating East African conflicts. Uganda’s military moved into Bunia, capital of Congo’s Ituri province, responding to what it called “massacres” by local militias. Thousands of Ugandan troops already operate in the region under a prior agreement with Kinshasa.
The Ugandan army chief raised tensions by warning forces in Bunia to lay down arms or risk attack. This military stance puts Uganda’s potential role as a migrants’ hub under fresh scrutiny. The country’s strict laws on sexual minorities add another layer of concern for human rights advocates.
Britain’s Rwanda Deal Casts Shadow Over Dutch Plans
The Netherlands’ pursuit of Uganda as a partner runs parallel to Britain’s troubled Rwanda deportation scheme. Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak encountered resistance to his Rwanda bill when his immigration minister stepped down in protest.
The “Safety of Rwanda Bill” aims to overcome legal barriers that blocked the UK from sending asylum seekers to Rwanda.
Recent court battles have further tangled Britain’s Rwanda policy. Judges paused the government’s bid to override a ruling that found parts of the UK Illegal Migration Act unlawful in Northern Ireland. The act sought to halt small boat arrivals by giving authorities power to send migrants to Rwanda.
Regional Turmoil Tests Migration Agreements
The Netherlands must navigate Uganda’s involvement in Congo’s crisis as it pursues its migrant treaty. Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have seized key cities, forcing Burundi to withdraw troops and spurring Uganda’s military intervention. The rebels now control vast tracts of eastern DRC.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that “as more cities fall, the risk of regional war rises,” urging warring parties toward dialogue.
Dutch ministers keep working on the Uganda convention behind closed doors. "These discussions are confidential," Minister Klever told reporters, though Uganda's foreign ministry earlier denied knowledge of such talks.
The plan hinges on sending refugees to Uganda from where they can return to their countries of origin in the “region” in exchange for financial compensation.
The Netherlands faces hurdles beyond regional instability. EU regulations allow failed asylum seekers to be sent only to their country of origin or a third country with their consent.
The Dutch government must also address concerns about Uganda’s human rights record and its capacity to handle an influx of migrants while managing its role in regional conflicts.
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