In a move that makes us question if the Netherlands now enjoys crumpets and cricket, the Dutch cabinet is exploring the idea of sending rejected African asylum seekers to Uganda.
At least, this is what the Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Aid, Reinette Klever has said during a visit to Uganda.
A “return hub”
According to the NOS, Klever explains that “ultimately, we want to reduce migration. For the government, it is important that rejected asylum seekers return to their country of origin.”
The idea of creating “return hubs” has become increasingly popular within Europe in recent years and is even endorsed by the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
A return hub is a place outside of Europe where rejected asylum seekers would be sent once their application within Europe has been rejected.
In this case, the NOS reports that the cabinet is looking into sending rejected asylum seekers from Uganda and “countries in the region” to return hubs in Uganda.
Did Klever care to elaborate on the Dutch cabinet’s plans, however? No.
Instead, she kept it vague, saying, “We have a long relationship with Uganda, and it is a hospitable country. And Asylum Minister Faber will further explore the possibilities.”
Strong opposition from the experts
However, as NOS’s Africa correspondent Elles van Gelder points out:
“Uganda likes to present itself as a hospitable country with an open door for refugees from neighbouring countries, but it is also an extremely undemocratic and repressive country.”
Adding that the long-standing relationship between the Netherlands and Uganda isn’t so great… “The relationship has suffered, however, because Uganda increasingly violates human rights.”
Meanwhile, according to political reporter Xander van der Wulp, “Human rights in Uganda are terribly bad, LGBTI people are being persecuted there. So how a return hub can be set up there according to Dutch standards is very much the question.”
Will this actually happen?
All four political parties within the current Dutch coalition have previously expressed interest in the idea of return hubs.
However, the details of Klever’s plan have yet to be worked out and much like the UK’s spectacular failure — we mean — Rwanda asylum plan, the government may encounter some hiccups when trying actually to implement anything.
Firstly, with few exceptions, it is currently not legal to deport someone anywhere other than the country they originate from.
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As Van der Wulp says, “There is talk in Europe about changing this legally and people are increasingly positive about it, but we are not there yet.”
He believes that in claiming this, the Dutch cabinet hopes to project a certain image and deter asylum seekers from coming to the Netherlands.
Whether Klever’s vague plans are indicative of a formidable right-wing government or simply a chaotic right-wing government that likes to make big claims is something we’ll leave for you to decide.
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