Rwanda-based political analyst hits out at 'blunt lie' about gay rights in country amid migrant flight row

Rwanda-based political analyst hits out at 'blunt lie' about gay rights in country amid migrant flight row
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Tom Evans

By Tom Evans


Published: 15/06/2022

- 22:42

Updated: 14/02/2023

- 11:00

Political analyst Albert Rudatsimburwa, tuning in live from Kigali in Rwanda, hit out at the "allegations" he has seen in the UK media in recent weeks

Appearing on GB News' Dan Wootton Tonight show, Mr Rudatsimburwa explained that the Rwanda genocide of the mid-1990s is a painful scar today.

But because of that, Rwanda is "reborn" and its modern culture stresses the importance of human life.


He told host Patrick Christys: "You have a rebirth of a nation because the biggest problem we’ve ever had, this genocide, was about dehumanising human beings.

"So that’s exactly what you wouldn’t have in Rwanda today."

Mr Rudatsimburwa spoke to GB News' Patrick Christys
Mr Rudatsimburwa spoke to GB News' Patrick Christys
GB News

A Boeing 767 aircraft set for Rwanda remained grounded yesterday
A Boeing 767 aircraft set for Rwanda remained grounded yesterday
Andrew Matthews

Patrick then said: "Every single day, I hear that if I was a gay person and I went to Rwanda, I might be persecuted. Is that true?"

Laughing, Mr Rudatsimburwa replied: "No! It's a blunt lie.

"Rwanda is not just safe, it's peaceful."

It comes after GB News viewers made it clear that they want the UK to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

The ECHR sparked arguably unprecedented backlash to a legal ruling of its type after judges issued 11th-hour injunctions that prevented migrants from boarding a plane that had been scheduled for Rwanda.

An out-of hours judge is understood to have considered last-minute appeals issued on Tuesday evening.

The Government eventually U-turned under the pressure, meaning none of the migrants – who had entered the UK illegally via Channel crossings – boarded the plane.

A poll published on Twitter by GB News today shows just how badly this legal intervention has gone down with Brits.

The poll asked: Following a last minute legal challenge from the European Court of Human Rights, the UK's first flight to Rwanda has been delayed. Do you think we should leave the ECHR?

In response, 84.3 percent of 3,898 respondents voted in favour of pulling out.

Just 15.7 percent said the UK should stick to the status quo.

Lawyers representing migrants were "abetting the work of criminal gangs", according to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

He insisted the Government would not be deterred from its policy, despite criticism from the Church of England and, reportedly, Prince Charles.

Mr Johnson acknowledged there had been criticism of the plan from “some slightly unexpected quarters” but highlighted the legal profession as the main source of opposition.

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