Norway agrees to take Rwanda’s refugees

Norway will take 500 refugees as part of an agreement signed between the UN refugee agency and the Africa Union.

As part of the agreement, Rwanda agreed to host migrants that found themselves in hostile conditions and detention centres in Libya having previously failed to cross the Mediterranean to Europe.

Joeran Kallmyr, Norway’s Justice Minister, has already said the country will take an additional 100 refugees by the end of the year, according to Reuters.

Mr Kallmyr said “It’s important to show that we don’t support cynical people smugglers, and instead bring people who need protection in an organised manner.

“A transit camp like the one in Rwanda will contribute to that effort”.

The migrants are currently waiting at the Gashura transit centre, located about 55km south of the Rwandan capital, Kigali.

Rwanda’s foreign minister, Vincent Biruta, also confirmed Sweden has taken an additional seven refugees.

Photo credit: Reuters