In Rwanda, overlooking the city in one of Kigali's leafy suburbs, a hotel called Hope Hostel has finally found a reason to open its doors every day.
Asylum seekers in the UK are to be deported to the East African nation and this hotel is to become their new home.
The hotel has had no customers since opening its doors two years ago.
Bakina Hotel manager Ismael told The Associated Press that they have been ready to offer the best services to asylum seekers for several years.
“When they arrive here at Hope Hostel, they will receive various hospitality services,” he said.
Previously, the hotel was known as the Association of Students Survivors of Genocide (AERG) hostel.
It was a safe haven for young people orphaned during the 1994 genocide, when up to 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed.
The Rwandan government has often described the 100-bed facility as a transit center, the first of its kind.
They were adamant that in the event of further deportations, the Rwandan government would build more similar centers.
British taxpayers' money funds the maintenance of the facility through a US$462.7 million deal signed by the two countries in 2022.
Rwanda has confirmed the receipt of some funds.
In an effort to discourage people from making the risky journeys, the UK government struck a deal with Rwanda in April 2022 to send migrants who arrive in the UK as black passengers or by boat to the East African country, where their asylum claims will be processed and processed. if successful they would stay.
Britain's parliament has finally approved a bill to send some migrants to Rwanda, clearing the runway for flights this summer as part of the government's controversial plan to stop migrants crossing the Channel from France to the UK in small boats.
Human rights groups and other critics of the plan say it is unfeasible and unethical to send migrants to a country 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers) away where they do not want to live.
No one has yet been sent to Rwanda, but British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the first flights would depart in July.
