In our analysis of the government’s new plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, we’ve looked at the moral and legal implications as well as the cost.

There is one thing we’ve overlooked, though, and that is how those changes will impact the country which the government says will process “tens of thousands” of asylum seekers travelling from Britain.

After Priti Patel’s signing ceremony and the bullish declaration that this would be a “world first”, we ventured outside our conference centre to try to speak to normal Rwandans.

Read more: Why are migrants being sent to Rwanda and how will it work?

Most declined to comment, weary of stopping to speak to a camera, but one young man we found at the market said he felt like anyone – black, white or otherwise – would be welcome in Rwanda.

“I can encourage all of the world to come to Rwanda,” he told us.

Eric, a taxi driver we met, was also supportive of the scheme.

‘We will get there’: Child who fled two wars trying night after night to make it to Britain from camp in northern France

Rwanda: First glimpse inside the centre that will house Channel migrants

Why are migrants being sent to Rwanda and how will it work?

An avid follower of the news and current affairs, he says he read about the partnership online in the morning.

“They may be called migrants or whatever, but they’re just people,” he said.

“We’re all one human race.”

Read more: First glimpse inside the centre which will house Channel migrants

Some politicians in the country disagreed, though.

The nation’s opposition leader felt otherwise, arguing Rwanda shouldn’t be dealing with a British migration backlog when they face issues of their own.

Speaking to us on Zoom, Victoire Ingabire said: “The population has woken up to the deal that has been signed – nobody knew about it.”

“We’re not ready,” she added.

“Because if our people don’t have enough to eat, if our kids or Rwanda’s kids don’t have the possibility of going to school because of the poverty, how will the Rwandan government give education to the kids of refugees?”

If this scheme goes ahead, those questions she asks will become even more pressing.

Related posts:

Portugal and Mauritius removed from England’s ‘travel ban’ red list France to return Klimt masterpiece sold under duress during Nazi era to rightful Jewish heirs WHO reassures Europe over Oxford jab as experts look into blood clot claims Israeli archaeologists discover dozens of new Dead Sea Scroll fragments in desert cave In the nation where COVID first gripped Europe, fans are optimistic of a safe and successful Euros Growing calls to scrap foreign aid cuts as philanthropists step in to replace shortfall Looting and anarchy sparked by Zuma arrest ‘may lead to food shortages’ in South Africa At least three dead and five missing as buildings collapse in Sicily gas explosion Far-right French presidential candidate convicted over migrant children comments Palestinian residents facing eviction from disputed property climb on to roof and threaten to set gas canisters on fire Distress signal detected on isolated Tonga islands that are home to 105 people Satellite images show Tonga covered in ash after volcanoc eruption