The Dutch government has signed a preliminary agreement with Uganda that could see the east African country host a transit center for rejected asylum seekers from the region, according to the Dutch Ministry for Asylum and Migration. 

The agreement, described as a declaration of intent, was signed on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the ministry confirmed on Thursday evening (September 25).

The deal outlines a pilot program under which a limited number of rejected asylum applicants would be relocated to Uganda, pending further legal and logistical coordination.

The plan remains in its early stages and must still be aligned with Dutch, European Union, and international law. Dutch officials say they are in active discussions with the European Commission and various UN agencies to ensure the initiative complies with global standards.

Europe looks to outsource asylum abroad

According to the Dutch government, Uganda has agreed to temporarily host migrants from the region in a dedicated facility. From there, the individuals would be repatriated to their countries of origin. However, it remains unclear what constitutes the region and which nationalities Uganda would be willing to accept.

The move follows Uganda’s earlier announcement in August that it would accept deported migrants from the US under a similar arrangement. It also echoes the UK's controversial and ultimately stalled plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.

Human rights concerns

The Netherlands' proposal has triggered significant backlash from opposition parties and human rights organizations. Amnesty International has warned that the plan risks violating human rights, citing concerns over the potential for forced detention and Uganda’s repressive laws targeting LGBTQ+ individuals.

David van Weel, the Dutch Minister for Asylum, responded to criticism by stressing that any transfers would abide strictly to Dutch and international legal frameworks, including human rights obligations.

The idea to outsource asylum processing originated with the right-wing Party for Freedom (PVV), led by populist leader Geert Wilders. Curbing immigration and tightening asylum procedures were central goals of the now-defunct ruling coalition, of which the PVV was a member.

With the Dutch government currently in a caretaker role and parliamentary elections scheduled for late October, the future of the Uganda deal remains uncertain. Asylum policy has re-emerged as a divisive issue in the lead-up to the vote, and a new government could choose to scrap or revise the initiative altogether.

With dpa