Rwanda has confirmed that it quietly received seven migrants expelled from the United States in mid-August, the first arrivals under a new bilateral deportation agreement reached earlier this month. Government spokesperson Yolande Makolo said the group was vetted before departure and is currently housed by an international organisation, with regular visits from the International Organization for Migration and Rwandan social services. Under the accord, Kigali can accept up to 250 people removed from the US and retains the right to review each proposed transfer. Makolo noted that three of the seven deportees have asked to return to their countries of origin, while four intend to settle in Rwanda, where they will receive workforce training, healthcare and accommodation. The deal is part of President Donald Trump’s broader strategy of third-country deportations aimed at accelerating removals of undocumented migrants, including those whose home nations will not take them back. Rwanda becomes the third African state to implement such an arrangement with Washington, after South Sudan and Eswatini, and talks are under way with Uganda. Rights organisations warn the policy may violate international protections if migrants are sent to countries where they face potential abuse, and they have criticised Rwanda’s human-rights record. Kigali previously struck—but never executed— a similar asylum pact with the United Kingdom in 2022 before it was annulled by the incoming Labour government.