The Dutch coalition government, led by Geert Wilders‘ far-right Freedom Party (PVV), is considering the possibility of sending rejected African asylum seekers to Uganda. The plan, which has been criticized as “totally unfeasible” by opposition politicians, was discussed during a visit to Uganda by the Dutch Minister for Trade and Development, Reinette Klever. While few details have been provided about the plan’s legality or feasibility, it is believed that rejected asylum seekers from Uganda and surrounding countries would be taken in by Uganda in exchange for financial compensation. Klever stated that the ultimate goal is to reduce migration. However, it remains uncertain whether Uganda would agree to such an arrangement given its existing refugee population of 1.6 million from Sudan, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The proposal has received mixed reactions within the Dutch government. While Wilders expressed support for the plan on social media, other members of the coalition government raised concerns about Uganda’s human rights record and anti-gay legislation. Opposition politicians also criticized the idea as a distraction from more pressing issues facing the country.
This proposal follows similar plans previously suggested by Denmark and the UK with no success in practice. Denmark’s attempt to send asylum seekers to third countries was criticized by a UN committee while costing British taxpayers £700m.
Since taking office in July, the Dutch coalition government has prioritized curbing asylum requests despite data showing that their numbers are average compared to other EU member states. The European Commission president recently called for exploring “return hubs” outside of Europe as a means of addressing migration issues.
while discussions regarding sending rejected African asylum seekers to Uganda are ongoing within the Dutch government, many uncertainties remain regarding its legal feasibility and practical implementation.