UK Commits £84 Million to Africa and Middle East in Effort to Curb Illegal Migration 'at Its Source'

© AP Photo / Stefan RousseauBritain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks at a press conference during the European Political Community summit at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England, Thursday July 18, 2024.
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks at a press conference during the European Political Community summit at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England, Thursday July 18, 2024. - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 20.07.2024
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In the year leading up to March 2024, there were 38,546 irregular arrivals in the UK. This highlights the ongoing issues faced by the UK in managing its borders and addressing the complex issues related to irregular migration, encompassing factors such as political instability, economic hardships, and conflict in various regions around the world.
The UK's new Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged on Thursday to invest £84 million (or about $108.5 million) in Africa and the Middle East to stop illegal migration.
He also vowed that his government would "collaborate with European partners to exchange intelligence data and expertise, aiming to dismantle the smuggling networks."

"But to stop illegal migration, we must also tackle it at source. So today I'm announcing £84 million of new funding for projects across Africa and the Middle East. That includes humanitarian and health support, skills training, help with job opportunities, and access to education," the politician said.

The prime minister made these remarks at the fourth European Political Community summit, held in south-western England, which focused on issues such as migration, the conflict in Ukraine, and energy security.
Rwanda's President Paul Kagame gestures as he gives a press conference at Kigali Convention Centre in Kigali, Rwanda, Monday, April 8, 2024. - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 15.07.2024
Sub-Saharan Africa
Rwanda Refuses to Return $350 Mln to UK After Asylum Deal Scrapped
Earlier in July, Starmer swiftly canceled the UK-Rwanda asylum deal on his first day in office, stating it was "doomed to failure" and not a deterrent to illegal migration. This deal involved the relocation of illegal immigrants from the UK to Rwanda in exchange for British funds.
Interestingly, after that, Rwanda's government declined to refund the $350 million it had received upfront under the agreement, adding that the funds had already been invested in developing infrastructure and increasing capacity to accommodate asylum seekers.
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