President Paul Kagame has offered to pay Britain back if the Rwanda migrant deportation deal falls through.
The Home Office has paid the Rwandan Government some £240million despite being engulfed in Parliamentary and legal battles to get the first flight off the ground.
Asked if the scheme was working, the President of Rwanda said: "Ask the UK. It's the UK's problem, not Rwanda's problem.
"The money is going to be used on those people who will come. If they don't come, we can return the money."
The offer of a refund is a fresh headache for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as attempts to guide his Rwanda Bill through Parliament.
Conservative rebels, who are urging Mr Sunak to toughen up his Rwanda Bill, immediately seized on President Kagame's warning over repeated delays.
A Tory rebel source said: "As Michael Tomlinson explained this morning, the Government's plan is going to need hundreds of judges to clear thousands of claims which will take months and months at a bare minimum.
"Rwanda want a plan that works quickly, not one that satisfies the whims of our Attorney General.
"The government should therefore back our plan. At this rate it will be Labour having to pay back the money."
Rwanda could walk away from its multi-million pound deal with the UK and keep the money "without accepting a single asylum seeker", MPs heard last month.
Rwanda Bill rebel leader says ‘I'm not yet satisfied by what we've heard from the PM’
Home Office permanent secretary, Sir Matthew Rycroft, told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) there was a "break clause" included in the memorandum of understanding the UK and Rwanda signed in April 2022 to seal the deal, which allows either government to walk away from it with three months' notice.
He confirmed that if the UK instigates the break clause, Rwanda keeps the money already paid but added: "There is a presumption that the UK Government will want to continue with the partnership, bearing in mind its importance in the overall efforts to stop the boats."
If Rwanda ends the agreement, Sir Matthew said the country's government would have to repay the money "proportionately".
Under the Government's proposals, illegal migrants who cross the Channel on small boats could be flown out to Rwanda to have any asylum claims processed there rather than being allowed to apply to settle in the UK while they are still on British soil.
The legislation, plus a treaty signed with Rwanda's leaders in its capital Kigali, is intended to make the measures legally watertight following a court ruling blocking deporations.
But Tory rebels are concerned migrants could still lodge individual appeals against deportation orders.
And they are concerned European judges will still be able to ground flights to Kigali.
Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick urged MPs to "find a way through" the "entirely foreseeable" prospect of European judges challenging the Rwanda plan.
He told the Commons during Wednesday's debate: "What we're discussing here is whether or not we believe it is appropriate for a foreign judge in an international court to impose a late night judgment, often without the United Kingdom being able to give its own arguments or to hear the reasons for that judgment, whether we think that really accords with the rule of law.
"And, in particular in relation to this policy, whether we're willing to see the same thing happen again that did in the summer of 2022 whereby a judge did just that, grounded the flight, prevented the policy, led to months, indeed years of legal action and tens of thousands of illegal migrants breaking into our country, costing our taxpayers billions of pounds, imperilling lives in the Channel and perpetuating this challenge for years to come."
Mr Jenrick added: "I think as night follows day if we don't make changes in this respect, we'll find ourselves in a few months' time in exactly the same position that (Priti Patel) as home secretary was in the summer of 2022, whereby the Strasbourg court will issue one, potentially many rule 39 interim measures, the decision will fall to a minister ... about what to do, the courts will be involved and we'll find ourselves in a very difficult, indeed intractable situation.
"It is, as I've said before, a bit like pulling the pin out of a grenade but not being prepared to throw it. Setting this scheme in train without knowing what you would do when this happens - it's entirely foreseeable, let's find a way through this challenge."
Mr Jenrick told the Government he was "here to help" with his amendment aimed at safeguarding against Rule 39 orders.
The Tory former immigration minister told MPs: "We have the power to fix this and we have the responsibility. So let's use the opportunity we have today with the amendment that we have brought forward to resolve this.
"Or else we will be here in two months' time, the Strasbourg court will impose a Rule 39, the Government will be scrambling around how to resolve this, and the Government will have no-one else to blame.
"I am here to help the Government to ensure this policy works, because I like everyone, at least on this side of the House, believes passionately that we have to make this policy work and to stop the boats.
"So I strongly encourage the Prime Minister to support the amendment in my name, and that of many others, and encourage everyone else on all sides of this House who share my determination to fix this problem to do exactly the same." By Michael Knowles, Daily Express
Sudanese Sovereignty Council President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan meets with IGAD officials in Djibouti in November. (Sovereignty Council)
The Sudanese Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday that it is suspending its involvement with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) regarding the ongoing crisis in Sudan.
The move comes two days before a scheduled summit in Uganda’s capital, Kampala. IGAD had called for the summit to discuss developments in Sudan and Somalia.
The decision to freeze ties with the east African regional bloc is expected to deepen Sudan’s isolation in the region and increase tensions with regional and international institutions.
The Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group have been fighting for nine months in a brutal war that has displaced millions.
On Tuesday, Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the decision came after IGAD added Sudan to the agenda of a meeting scheduled for Kampala on January 18 and invited the RSF’s leader, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo – known as Hemedti – to attend.
The ministry criticized the invitation extended to Hemedti as a “dangerous precedent” in IGAD’s history and a violation of Sudan’s sovereignty, viewing it as a significant breach of the bloc’s charters and the rules governing international and regional organizations.
The Sudanese Sovereignty Council stressed the importance of implementing decisions from the previous IGAD summit held in Djibouti in December.
Two days ago, there was an attempt to arrange a meeting between Army Commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Hemedti.
However, Hemedti couldn't attend, citing “technical reasons,” and instead conducted a diplomatic tour in various African countries.
In other news, Rasha Awad, a spokesperson for the Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces (Taqaddum), announced on Tuesday that al-Burhan has agreed to meet with Taqaddum, led by former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, without specifying when or where the meeting will take place. Source: Asharq -AL-Awsat
Rishi Sunak has been dealt a fresh blow to his authority as 68 MPs, including 60 Tories, voted in favour of changes to his Rwanda Bill put forward by Conservative backbencher Sir Bill Cash.
The amendment, seeking to ensure UK and international law cannot be used to block a person being removed to Rwanda, was rejected by a majority of 461.
But the rebellion gives an indication of the scale of unease within the Conservative Party during an election year.
Below is a full list of the Conservatives who voted for the amendment:
Adam Afriyie - Windsor
Lee Anderson - Ashfield
Sarah Atherton - Wrexham
Sir Jake Berry - Rossendale and Darwen
Bob Blackman - Harrow East
Ben Bradley - Mansfield
Suella Braverman - Fareham
Jack Brereton - Stoke-on-Trent South
Paul Bristow - Peterborough
Sir Bill Cash - Stone
Miriam Cates - Penistone and Stocksbridge
Rehman Chishti - Gillingham and Rainham
Sir Christopher Chope - Christchurch
Sir Simon Clarke - Middlesborough South and East Cleveland
Brendan Clarke-Smith - Bassetlaw
Philip Davies - Shipley
Sarah Dines - Derbyshire Dales
Richard Drax - South Dorset
Sir James Duddridge - Rochford and Southend East
Sir Iain Duncan Smith - Chingford and Woodford Green
Pastor Paul Mackenzie and his accomplices Robert Kahindi, Alfred Asena, and Sanga Stephen Muye in court on Monday, April 17, 2023. [Marion Kithi, Standard]
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) in Kenya has charged preacher Paul Makenzi and 95 of his followers with murder over the Shakahola massacre.
The tragic event, claiming the lives of 429 individuals, is now at the forefront of legal proceedings following extensive investigations and evidence analysis.
In a press statement released on Tuesday, January 16, the ODPP outlined the various charges brought against Makenzi and his accomplices.
These include murder under the Penal Code (Section 203), assault causing bodily harm (Section 251), contraventions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act and Prevention of Organized Crimes Act, and manslaughter accusations (Section 202 with 205).
"Upon perusal of all the inquiry files and thorough analysis of the evidence, the ODPP is satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to charge all the 95 suspects who are currently in custody with the following offences," the statement read in part.
Furthermore, the suspects face accusations of radicalization under Section 12D of the Prevention of Terrorism Act of 2012.
The ODPP emphasises the urgency of these proceedings, stating, "The DPP has therefore directed that the suspects be presented before the High Court and Subordinate Court forthwith. The ODPP undertakes to expeditiously prosecute the matters in view of the great public interest involved.”
It's worth noting that Makenzi was previously sentenced to a year and a half in prison on December 1, 2023, for illegally distributing unrated films during his radical sermons. He also received a six-month sentence for operating a film studio without a valid license.
The Shakahola massacre sparked outrage and grief across Kenya, making the ODPP's announcement a crucial step towards closure and accountability. By Mate Tongola, The Standard
As Kenyans bid goodbye to the holiday season and welcome the new year, there is still little to smile about with the Kenya’s economy still biting. The low-income households in particular are feeling the pinch of surge of prices of basic commodities. This group, which spends about 60% of their income on food is constantly lamenting on how life in urban areas is becoming unbearable.
Erick Okutoyi, a boda boda rider at Kibera divulged that the transport sector had also taken a hit of the ripple effect of the high cost of living. “My business has been affected a lot. When fuel prices were going up every month, I was forced to up my prices so as to meet the skyrocketing costs. A distance that used cost Ksh.50 went up to Ksh.100. I lost regular customers who sought alternative means,” said the soft speaking boda boda rider.
Like any other Kenyan, Erick is struggling just to make ends meet. “This boda boda is not mine. I have hired it and I have to pay Ksh.500 per day. I have a family and they are all depending on me. Children are going back to school. The Ksh.1000 I make in a day is not sufficient enough to pay the boda boda owner, pay rent, feed my family and take my children to school. Books are expensive, uniforms and school fees are still high,” said Erick.
“I don’t even take lunch so as minimize on my expenditures. Most times I have to work past midnight just to get some extra cash to settle the overwhelming bills,” added Erick.
Despite the array of challenges, he is going through, Erick believes that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
“Through the Kibra Boda boda Sacco, I was registered and trained on electric motorcycle. I am happy by the end of January I will be receiving an electric bike,” reiterated Erick. “These bikes are affordable and cost friendly. With a small deposit and daily pay of Ksh.450, I will be able to fully own a motorcycle in 3 months,” he added.
“The advantage of these bikes is that with only Ksh.200, I will be able to get a battery swap that can last me all day. When I compare this to fuel, it is cheaper and it will increase my profit margins. I believe things will get better. The government should also do something,” added Erick.
Erick is one of many Kenyans grappling with the cost of living. The consumption habits of many people have been altered. Times are hard. And as the government is emphasizing on the importance of robust revenue collection for self-sustainability and economic development through taxation, it ought to be reminded that it is the common Mwananchi that bears the weight of all this.
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