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Botswana declines contentious UK proposal on asylum seekers

People believed to be migrants disembark from a British Border Force vessel as they arrive at the Port of Dover in Dover, Britain, April, 29, 2024. (Photo: Chris J. Ratcliffe/Reuters)

By Mwangi Maina | 29 Apr 2024

Botswana cited immigration challenges, particularly in its neighbourhood, as the reason for refusing the request.

Botswana has declined a request from the UK to host deported illegal migrants, as confirmed by the country's Foreign Minister Lemogang Kwape.

In an interview with South African broadcaster Newzroom Afrika last week, Kwape said, "I can confirm that the British government, through the Foreign Secretary and the Minister for Africa, did approach Botswana through diplomatic channels to receive illegal migrants that are destined for the United Kingdom but we did not accede to their request."

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He cited Botswana's existing immigration challenges, particularly in its neighbourhood, as a reason for refusing the request.

"To receive unwanted immigrants from another country while we are dealing with our own problems in the region would be unfair," Kwape said, adding that his country cannot accept illegal migrants from a third country.

"The British government does not want these people in their country so they want to ferry them to a faraway country."

Botswana is home to immigrants from neighbouring countries, including Zimbabwe, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The British Parliament recently passed a Bill that would facilitate the deportation of illegal migrants to Rwanda, despite widespread condemnation from rights groups, representatives, and the UN.

Following the passage of the Bill, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated that the focus is now on "getting flights off the ground."

He explained that the Rwanda Bill aims to deter vulnerable migrants from undertaking perilous crossings and disrupt the operations of criminal gangs exploiting them.