Following the passage of the “Safety of Rwanda” Bill by the UK Parliament, two UN leaders have again sounded the alarm on the harmful impact it will have on global responsibility-sharing, human rights and refugee protection.

Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, are calling on the UK government to reconsider its plan to transfer asylum-seekers to Rwanda and instead to take practical measures to address irregular flows of refugees and migrants, based on international cooperation and respect for international human rights law.

The Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill was tabled before Parliament alongside the UK-Rwanda Asylum Partnership Treaty after the UK’s Supreme Court found last year that the proposed transfer of asylum-seekers to Rwanda would breach international and UK law, noting weaknesses in the Rwanda system for determining individual asylum claims. But the Bill and the Treaty do not in practice overcome the protection gaps identified by the Supreme Court. Rather, once enacted, it will restrict the UK courts from properly scrutinising removal decisions, leaving asylum-seekers with limited room to appeal even if they face significant risks.

“The new legislation marks a further step away from the UK’s long tradition of providing refuge to those in need, in breach of the Refugee Convention,” said Grandi. “Protecting refugees requires all countries – not just those neighbouring crisis zones – to uphold their obligations. This arrangement seeks to shift responsibility for refugee protection, undermining international cooperation and setting a worrying global precedent.”

“The UK has a proud history of effective, independent judicial scrutiny. It can still take the right steps and put in place measures to help address the factors that drive people to leave home, and share responsibility for those in need of protection, with European and other international partners,” he added.

For this, a fair, efficient and well-governed migration and asylum system is key – ensuring access to protection for those in need and enabling the return home of those with no lawful basis to remain.

Acknowledging the challenges presented by the irregular movement of refugees and migrants, often in dangerous circumstances, the UN leaders nonetheless expressed grave concern that the legislation would facilitate transfers under the UK-Rwanda asylum partnership, with only limited consideration of their individual circumstances or any protection risks. They called on the UK instead to pursue practical cooperation with countries along the routes that refugees and migrants take, to strengthen protection and offer real alternatives. This includes expanding safe and regular pathways to protection.

“By shifting responsibility for refugees, reducing the UK’s courts’ ability to scrutinise removal decisions, restricting access to legal remedies in the UK and limiting the scope of domestic and international human rights protections for a specific group of people, this new legislation seriously hinders the rule of law in the UK and sets a perilous precedent globally,” said Türk.

“It is critical to the protection of the human rights and dignity of refugees and migrants seeking protection that all removals from the UK are carried out after assessing their specific individual circumstances in strict compliance with international human rights and refugee law.”

The new legislation is the third in a series of progressively restrictive UK laws that have eroded access to refugee protection in the UK since 2022, including through a ban on access to asylum or other forms of permission to stay in the UK for those arriving irregularly via a third country. If implemented, it would pave the way for asylum-seekers, including families with children, to be summarily sent to Rwanda to present their asylum claims, with no prospect of return to the UK. It will also drastically limit the ability for asylum-seekers to challenge or appeal removal decisions, with decision-makers and judges required to conclusively treat Rwanda as a “safe” country in terms of protecting asylum-seekers – regardless of any evidence to the contrary, now or in the future. This situation is even more concerning given the legislation expressly authorizes the Government to disregard any protective interim remedies from the European Court of Human Rights.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile is undertaking a Working Visit to Dubai and Abu-Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 22 – 25 April 2024. 

The Deputy President’s visit to the UAE is aimed at building and strengthening bilateral relations, particularly increasing economic and knowledge exchange between the two states. 

The visit will see the Deputy President and his delegation engage with experts in the telecommunications and digital economy, in line with South Africa’s goals related to expanding technological and digital infrastructure towards Meaningful Universal Connectivity. 

Countries are moving towards digital sovereignty and South Africa, as one of the leading nations in the sector within the continent has the opportunity to spearhead initiatives in this regard towards strengthening public service delivery and enhancing participation in the digital economy. This working visit is as such, integral to building capacity towards digital sovereignty. 

During the visit the Deputy President will interact with the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Applications as well as other relevant national and regional entities within the UAE.

The UAE is a competitive market for the information and communication technology (ICT) sector in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The UAE public sector investment helps drive demand for ICT products and services in sectors such as healthcare, aviation, defense, transportation, financial services and others linked to the UAE’s economic diversification plans.

The visit by the Deputy President provides an opportunity for the South African government to increase knowledge and expertise in the ICT sector towards the improvement and expansion of public services and governance systems through digital economy channels.

The Deputy President is accompanied to the UAE by Deputy Minister Candith Mashego-Dlamini – Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Minister Mondli Gungubele – Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, and Minister Ronald Lamola – Department of Justice.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.

The Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa has said that he will rally Members of Parliament (MPs) to prioritise malaria prevention and control in the 2024/2025 financial year budget.

“This year we have put Shs25 billion in the budget for malaria testing kits. I think this is the first time, it is just the beginning,” Tayebwa said.

He made the commitment on Saturday, 20 April 2024 at Parliament after participating in a 10km Malaria Awareness Walk, ahead of the World Malaria Day commemorated on 25 April.

He tasked the Minister of Health, Dr. Ruth Aceng to take a position on spraying and larviciding as one of the interventions in the fight against the malaria epidemic.

“I want to ask Hon. minister that you and World Health Organisation reconcile your positions on spraying and larviciding because neighbouring countries which have eliminated malaria have sprayed,” he said adding that, ’this business of saying that Parliament said we cannot spray; this is a new Parliament, we are going to take charge. If we agree on spraying, we shall provide the money’.

Tayebwa asked the minister to present a costed strategy on spraying, to Parliament within three months.

“The money we are spending on treating malaria is too much and yet we are losing so many people. Let us make a commitment to fight malaria,” he said.

Responding to a petition that was presented by a section of children who urged Parliament to among other things, allocate more funding to research and innovations to combat malaria, Tayebwa said a special session will be held to handle the concerns raised.

“What is more important is taking action on the points,” Tayebwa said.

Minister Aceng applauded Parliament for promoting and investing in prevention of malaria saying that it is timely because partners are cutting funding for malaria control and prevention.

“It is time for Uganda to mobilise its own resources to end malaria. We are re-strategising and re-focusing all our resources,” she said.

She warned that the pattern of malaria is changing, affecting adolescents in addition to expectant mothers and children.

“The vaccine we are getting only protects 50 per cent; that means it is not the magic bullet,” Aceng said.

The Chairperson of the Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Malaria, Hon. Timothy Batuwa said that MPs have now adopted a community approach to combat malaria deaths and this has attracted support from all public universities.

“We are involving the communities right from programme design to implementation. We shall be training village teams in testing of malaria,” said Batuwa.

According to the Director Public Health in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Daniel Kyabayinze, malaria kills 14 people every day and blamed this on late testing and delayed care.

“We can reverse and end this. Once you seek care in time, we can eliminate malaria,” he said.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Panoro Energy Senior Advisor Tim O’Hanlon will engage in an exclusive fireside chat at next month’s Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2024 forum, focusing on unlocking opportunities within Gabon’s energy sector.

Panoro Energy is leading infrastructure-led exploration and appraisal offshore Gabon, leveraging existing infrastructure to fast-track development of low-cost barrels. Last November, the company announced an oil discovery at the Hibiscus South field on the offshore Dussafu Marin Permit, contributing 6-7 million barrels of recoverable reserves to Gabon’s resource base and representing the sixth discovery to be made on the block under Panoro’s participation. Panoro Energy and operator BW Energy started up production from the well last month – just five months after discovery – with production stabilized at 5,000-6,000 barrels of oil per day.

Organized by Energy Capital&Power, IAE 2024 (https://apo-opa.co/49krKXM) is an exclusive forum designed to facilitate investment between African energy markets and global investors. Taking place May 14-15, 2024 in Paris, the event offers delegates two days of intensive engagement with industry experts, project developers, investors and policymakers. For more information, please visit www.Invest-Africa-Energy.com. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

Gabon’s energy sector holds significant upside potential, as the country undergoes a revitalization of its oil and gas industry, with a view to launching new drilling and appraisal activities, applying enhanced oil recovery techniques and expanding domestic processing capabilities. The session – opened by a keynote address from Gabonese Minister of Petroleum Marcel Abeke – will shed insights into the country’s burgeoning investment opportunities and latest developments, including offshore discoveries, acquisitions and integrated gas projects.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.