Rwanda has confirmed the arrival of seven migrants deported from the United States, marking the first transfers under a controversial bilateral agreement. The arrivals in mid-August expand Washington’s “third-country” deportation network in Africa.
Government spokesperson Yolande Makolo said the group had been vetted before transfer. Rwanda has agreed to accept up to 250 migrants under the program, retaining the right to approve individuals and excluding child sex offenders. Officials describe the arrangement as aligning with Rwanda’s history of reintegration and rehabilitation.
At least three other African nations have struck similar agreements with Washington in 2025:
- South Sudan: 8 deportees from Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, and Vietnam
- Eswatini: 5 deportees from Vietnam, Jamaica, Cuba, Yemen, and Laos
- Uganda: Agreement reported, no confirmed deportations yet
Treatment of deportees varies. Rwandan authorities confirmed that seven deportees from the United States arrived in mid-August. According to official statements, the government provides housing, healthcare, and workforce training, with partial support from a US grant. No independent verification of these arrangements has been released.
Reports from Eswatini indicate that five deportees are being held in maximum-security facilities and are involved in ongoing legal proceedings. There has been no information on the conditions of deportees sent to South Sudan.
A US Supreme Court ruling in June 2025, allows President Trump to deport illegal migrants without prior notice to a third country. Meanwhile in Boston, a federal lawsuit is asking the court to determine if this practice is legal. The UNHCR have also expressed concerns about risks such as the forced return of individuals to places where they may face harm.
Rwanda has previously engaged in international migration programs. Between 2019 and 2025, the country collaborated with the United Nations to relocate approximately 3,000 refugees from Libya. Rwanda and the United Kingdom in 2022, signed a similar deportation agreement, but it was subsequently annulled by the British Supreme Court in 2023.
Analysts concedes that agreements of this type often involve economic and diplomatic considerations. African partner countries may receive financial or development support, while the United States gains cooperation in relocating individuals whose home countries do not accept them.
No additional information about the identities, nationalities, or circumstances of the seven deportees has been disclosed by either government.
