To: The Honorable Donald J. Trump
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500
Date: May 8, 2025
Re: Opposition to the Proposed Transfer of Migrants to Rwanda
Dear President Trump:
The Movement for the Republic and Democracy (MRD) hereby wishes to express its deep concern and firm opposition to any proposals, plans or agreements to transfer refouled migrants from USA to Rwanda.
Please consider the following points:
1. Rwanda is a country with critical demographic and agricultural pressure
Rwanda is a small, landlocked country, among the most densely populated in the world. Agricultural land is scarce and not very fertile. Famine is already affecting several regions of the country. Adding a migrant population to this already fragile situation would only aggravate the humanitarian situation and create internal social tensions in a context already marked by persistent ethnic divisions between Hutus and Tutsis.
2. An authoritarian regime using migrants for political gains
The Rwandan government, led by President Paul Kagame, is using the reception of migrants as a propaganda tool to project a flattering international image. Yet this same regime is accused of serious human rights violations both in Rwanda and in DRC: grave assassinations of political opponents, kidnappings, arbitrary detentions, systematic repression of critical voices. Migrants sent in such a context would be exposed to inhuman treatment.
3. Involvement in regional conflicts via refugees
There are credible reports of forced recruitment of Burundian and Congolese refugees living in the camps by the Rwandan authorities, to integrate them into armed groups such as the M23 (against the DRC) or RED Tabara (against Burundi). There is therefore a serious risk that migrants transferred from the USA will also be forced into armed conflicts threatening regional stability.
4. A country that persecutes refugees
Numerous human rights organizations have documented the abuses committed by Rwanda against refugees on its territory, including the murder of Congolese refugees in Kiziba camps, whose sole crime was participating in a protest where they were demanding their rights to return to their country of origin. Rwanda also tracks down dissidents abroad, kidnap them such as was the case of Hotel Rwanda’s hero Paul Rusesabagina. Kagame’s Rwanda have committed many transnational repressions against dissidents, migrants and refugees. This behavior is incompatible with the principles upheld by the United States in terms of respect for the rights of refugees.
5. A regime that persecute Christians and the people of faith
Thousands of Christians are reported to have been killed or gone missing by the Kagame regime including the famous gospel singer Kizito Mihigo who was killed while in police custody on February 17, 2020. In 2024 alone, Kagame regime closed over 10,000 churches while 600 church facilities were destroyed. The regime has also fastened its tight grip over church affairs and meddles in church tithes and offerings; imposing on churches unbearable religious demands.
In view of this, we ask you, Mr. President, to reject such proposals from Rwanda and any future project to transfer migrants to Rwanda. What is at stake is not only the safety and dignity of the people concerned, but also the credibility of the United States as a defender of human rights and peace.
We pray and hope that as always, you will exercise discernment such as other countries including United Kingdom and Israel have already taken, renouncing similar agreements after a thorough assessment of the risks.
Yours sincerely,
Rev. Christine COLEMAN
MRD President
Copies for information:
- Mike Johnson, Speaker of US House of Representatives
- Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State
- Senator Jim Risch, Senate Foreign Relations Committee
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