Despite concerns over European laws and conventions, the Dutch government is exploring the idea of deporting Africans, whose asylum requests have been refused, to Uganda. The controversial initiative, allegedly accepted by Uganda, is being spearheaded by Foreign Trade and Development Aid Minister Reinette Klever and Asylum and Migration Minister Marjolein Faber. It targets asylum seekers who have exhausted all legal options and cannot remain in the Netherlands. If they refuse or are unable to return to their country of origin, they will be sent to Uganda until their final departure.
In recent years, the coalition government in the Netherlands has implemented stricter asylum and migration policies, leading to increased deportations of asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected. For example, in 2024, 2,750 individuals were forcibly deported, marking the fourth consecutive year of increased departures. Additionally, 3,240 people left the country with government assistance. Notably, there was a significant rise in deportations to Algeria and Morocco, with 210 and 250 individuals returned, respectively.
Although Klever has offered few details on the proposed deportation, it is unclear whether such a plan would be legal or feasible. However, it is reported that rejected asylum seekers from Uganda and the surrounding region — the exact list of countries has not been specified — would be taken in by Uganda and hosted in exchange for financial compensation.
Considering that every country has the sovereign right to regulate immigration and enforce its laws, no one should begrudge the Dutch government for exercising its right to deport asylum seekers who have exhausted legal avenues. Asylum is meant for those genuinely fleeing persecution, war, or human rights abuses, not for individuals applying for asylum for economic reasons. While economic hardship is unfortunate, asylum is not designed for such cases. Moreover, unregulated migration can strain housing, healthcare, education, and public services.
However, such deportations should be carried out fairly, lawfully, and humanely. The government must ensure that laws, including immigration laws, are respected. If deportations are lawful and transparent, they reinforce the credibility of the justice system. Deportations must be conducted in a humane manner, ensuring that individuals are not mistreated or left in dangerous conditions upon return.
Ultimately, deportation should not be about hostility towards asylum seekers but about enforcing legal decisions while respecting human dignity. If carried out justly, no one should begrudge a government for enforcing its laws. In other words, there must be recourse to due process in carrying out deportations. The Dutch government should remember that The Netherlands is bound by international treaties such as the 1951 Refugee Convention, the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. These agreements protect asylum seekers. Courts and legal bodies must review asylum cases thoroughly to prevent wrongful deportations, which could result in legal challenges against the government.
The Dutch government should bear in mind that if the deportations are conducted unlawfully, it could face sanctions from the European Union, lawsuits from human rights organizations, or diplomatic tensions with other nations. Deportees could be sent back to countries where they face persecution, torture, or inhumane treatment. If deportations are carried out illegally, deportees may challenge them in Dutch or European courts, leading to legal battles and financial costs for the government. The Netherlands could be forced to compensate wrongly deported individuals if found guilty of violating the law.
In any case, the Dutch deportations should serve as a wake-up call for African leaders to address the poor governance, economic hardship, insecurity, and lack of job opportunities that force their citizens to flee their home countries in search of so-called greener pastures abroad. Instead of indulging in official corruption and amassing material wealth, African leaders should focus on job creation, quality education, and infrastructure development to reduce mass migration.
If African countries were livable, citizens would not leave them to seek greener pastures in the Netherlands. African leaders should improve the economy of their respective countries by creating job opportunities, reducing poverty, and improving the overall standard of living.
African governments should implement policies that promote economic growth, attract foreign investment, and support entrepreneurship. For example, they should implement policies that support small and medium-sized enterprises, streamline business regulations, and provide financial support and mentorship to aspiring entrepreneurs, creating an enabling environment for entrepreneurship and job creation in order to incentivize young Africans to stay in Africa and contribute to the continent’s economy.
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