Kenya set to receive rejected EU Asylum seekers
Kenya set to receive rejected EU Asylum seekers
Kenya has emerged among a group of countries being considered to host new centres for rejected asylum seekers under a European Union-backed migration plan aimed at speeding up deportations from member states.
The proposed facilities, known as return hubs, would allow European countries to transfer migrants whose asylum applications have been definitively rejected to designated third countries as they await return to their countries of origin.
According to Dutch broadcaster RTL Nieuws, the Netherlands is primarily considering Kenya for the initiative, with Rwanda and Benin also among the countries under assessment.
The plans are still in the exploratory phase, with diplomatic and official consultations ongoing as European governments seek partners willing to participate in the arrangement.
The initiative forms part of the European Migration Pact, which recently entered into force and seeks to strengthen the bloc’s ability to remove individuals who have exhausted all legal avenues to remain in Europe.
The Netherlands is working alongside Germany, Austria, Denmark and Greece in assessing countries that could host the facilities, with officials evaluating factors such as political stability and the ability to comply with international human rights obligations.
An initial assessment reportedly identified Kenya as a strong candidate due to its relative economic strength and stable political environment compared to other countries under consideration.
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European reports cited in the discussions have also mentioned Ghana and Uzbekistan among countries being examined, although the status of any contacts with those nations remains unclear.
The proposal comes days after European lawmakers approved new return rules that introduce tougher measures for undocumented migrants and create a legal framework for the establishment of return hubs outside the European Union.
Speaking after the approval of the legislation, Dutch lawmaker Malik Azmani said: “Today, Europe delivered. People rightly expect that those with no right to stay return to their countries of origin.”
Under the new rules, migrants issued with return decisions will be required to leave the relevant EU country within a specified period, while authorities will be granted wider powers to facilitate removals and prevent individuals from evading deportation.
It is, however, important to note that no agreement has been announced between Kenya and any European government regarding the proposed return hubs, and Dutch authorities have maintained that they cannot comment on specific countries under consideration because of the diplomatic sensitivity of the ongoing discussions.
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