Officials in Botswana say Gaborone has rejected a proposal by the United Kingdom to send asylum seekers to the southern African nation — an arrangement like the one that Rwanda has agreed to.
According to a report by VOA, Lemogang Kwape, Botswana’s minister of foreign affairs said the U.K. reached out, but Gaborone would not commit to “hosting people not knowing what the end game would be.”
Despite the rejection by Botswana, Britain is scheduled to proceed with sending asylum seekers to Rwanda. The nation’s Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, says deportations are scheduled to start in 10-12 weeks.
Sunak says the measure is focused on addressing increased illegal migration in his nation.
His government has already paid Rwanda 220 million pounds as part of the deal. Britain has also agreed to pay an extra 150 million pounds over the next three years, and 120 million pounds once the first 300 asylum seekers have been resettled, according to Britain’s National Audit Office, NAO.
