5 EU countries eye Kenya as a prime asylum destination alongside Ghana, Benin, and Rwanda

Governments across several European countries are looking to Africa, in this case specifically, East Africa, to aid with asylum centers, intended to be a stable destination for deportation.

• Several European governments are considering East African countries as destinations for rejected asylum seekers.
• The Netherlands is currently focusing on Kenya as the main option, although Uganda, Rwanda, and Benin are also being considered.
• These arrangements are still in the exploratory and diplomatic evaluation phase.
• Kenya is favored due to its relative affluence and political stability, but there are concerns about human rights in Rwanda.

Per the recent update, the administration in the Netherlands was said to be eyeing Uganda as an asylum site for those rejected in the European country, amid backlash from the idea.

However, Kenya is now the Dutch authorities' main destination for said asylum seekers.

This information was disclosed to RTL Nieuws by sources close to the development, who noted that Rwanda, Ghana, and Benin are also being considered for the asylum refuge dubbed 'return hubs.'

These African countries could play a significant role in the European Migration Pact, which went into effect two weeks ago, as they allow individuals who are outside Europe to return to their home countries.

Sources who spoke to the news outlet also revealed that the arrangements with African nations remain in the exploratory phase, as potential options are currently undergoing both official and diplomatic evaluation.

The Netherlands, alongside Germany, Austria, Denmark, and Greece, represents a significant coalition within the European Union concerning the plan.

These member states are presently assessing which nations in the EU are most appropriate for the establishment of facilities to house rejected asylum seekers.

Insiders disclosed that a preliminary evaluation suggests that Kenya is the most apparent option.

Kenya is one of Africa's more affluent nations, and its political climate is also relatively stable.

Rwanda is also being examined by the Netherlands and the leadership group, however, the group seems to be concerned with human rights issues around Kigali.

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Benin in West Africa is another potential destination the leadership group is investigating, despite the fact that conversations have not been initiated in that front.

Ghana and Uzbekistan are also included in European publications on the evaluation, although it is still unclear how the interactions are going.

Following its evaluations, the Netherlands will thereafter make a choice on its future course of action, as its current objective is to make a definitive decision before the end of the year.

It remains unclear if the deal would apply exclusively to the five EU countries listed above or to all EU members.