The United Kingdom has just experienced a historic general election, marked by a massive turnout of 46 million voters. After a 14-year absence from power, Labour is back with a vengeance under the leadership of Keir Starmer, a former barrister renowned for his rigour and integrity. Keir Starmer’s landslide victory over the Conservative Rishi Sunak marked a decisive turning point for the country.
On his first day in 10 Downing Street, Keir Starmer demonstrated his determination to keep his campaign promises. Accompanied by several influential members of his party, he announced the end of the controversial Conservative plan to deport migrants who arrived in the UK illegally to Rwanda. The decision, announced in a letter to the Telegraph newspaper, reflects Labour’s commitment to adopting a more humane approach that respects the rights of refugees, unlike the Conservatives.
The Conservative plan, initiated under Boris Johnson and taken over by Rishi Sunak, had caused considerable controversy in the UK and abroad. The plan called for migrants to be deported to Rwanda, a measure criticised for its lack of compassion and possible human rights violations. The Conservatives had defended this policy as a solution to deter illegal immigration and manage the migration crisis, but it was widely condemned by human rights organisations and a significant proportion of the British population.
Labour’s promise…
During its campaign, the Labour Party promised to put an end to the project if it won the election. Keir Starmer had stressed the need to adopt a fairer and more humane immigration policy, respecting the UK’s international commitments on human rights. The decision to abandon the plan to deport people to Rwanda is an important first step in fulfilling that promise.
Dr Debora Kayembe, a powerful voice against the Conservative project from the moment it was initiated by Boris Johnson
It is important to remember that a Congolese woman, aware of the adverse consequences that this expulsion would have in the sub-region, and particularly in the eastern part of the DRC, played a crucial role in mobilising against this measure. Dr Debora Kayembe, a leading figure in international law and Honorary Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, the UK’s third largest university, spoke out against the policy, which she considered not only illegal but also inhumane.
In her second year as Rector, on 14 April 2022, the then British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, announced plans to send refugees labelled as ‘undesirables’ to Rwanda. This decision immediately provoked a wave of criticism, both nationally and internationally.
Dr Debora Kayembe, using her influence and expertise in international law, was quick to oppose the decision. On her Twitter account (X), she expressed her indignation and disapproval in the following terms: « Prime Minister, we have reached the bottom of inhumanity. Don’t you know that Mr Kagame is the orchestrator of the Rwandan genocide? It was following this publication that Rwanda’s digital army attacked her, even receiving death threats and a petition to dismiss her as Rector. It was in June 2022 that the University of Edinburgh dropped all proceedings against her dismissal, a situation that prompted Dr Debora Kayembe to announce her intention to lodge a complaint against the institution.
Thanks to her status and determination, Dr. Kayembe has succeeded in mobilising a large number of people in the United Kingdom and particularly at the University, highlighting the potential violations of refugee rights and the destabilising consequences for the sub-region, particularly in the east of the DRC.
Dr Debora Kayembe’s commitment has had a significant impact on public opinion and policy makers in the UK. Her voice, combined with those of other human rights defenders, created sufficient pressure to question the legitimacy and ethics of the expulsion of refugees to Rwanda. This mobilisation played a key role in the decision by Keir Starmer’s new Labour government to abandon this controversial project as soon as it came to power.
