British government - The African Mirror

Dec

2023

Kenya at 60: the shameful truth about British colonial abuse and how it was covered up

IT is fairly well known that the lives of hundreds of thousands of Kenyans were affected by terrible acts of violence under the British colonial administration. The British government and King Charles have acknowledged it, and some victims of violence have taken the British government to court for these crimes. AOIFE DUFFY, Senior Lecturer, University of Essex Less known is how much the British imperialist government tried to cover up these violations. My research reveals how harsh British detention camps in Kenya were, and the extremes to which the colonialists went to conceal information about this. Much of this violence…

Dec

2023

By MICHAEL HOLDEN

Prince Harry challenges ‘unfair treatment’ over UK security in London court

WORLD

PRINCE Harry has been subjected to unlawful, unfair and unjustifiable treatment by the British government over the decision to take away his police protection when he is in Britain, his lawyer told London's High Court. Harry, along with other senior royals, had received full publicly-funded security protection provided by the state before he decided to step back from his royal duties and move to California with his American wife Meghan in 2020. But the Home Office — the ministry responsible for policing, immigration and security — decided in February that year that Harry would cease to automatically receive personal police…

Nov

2023

By The African Mirror

UK’s Rwanda migrant resettlement plan ruled unlawful: Reactions

NEWS

THE Supreme Court ruled that the British government's plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda was unlawful as it could not be considered a safe third country, a major blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's pledge to stop people arriving in small boats. Below are some officials' reactions: PRIME MINISTER RISHI SUNAK "This was not the outcome we wanted, but we have spent the last few months planning for all eventualities and we remain completely committed to stopping the boats." The court "has confirmed that the principle of sending illegal migrants to a safe third country for processing is lawful. This confirms…

Nov

2023

By The African Mirror

King Charles in Kenya: despite past tensions, the visit is a sign of a strong relationship with Britain

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

KING Charles’ visit to Kenya this week is the British monarch’s first to a Commonwealth nation since his coronation in September 2022. The visit comes during the country’s 60th anniversary of independence from Britain. POPPY CULLEN, Lecturer in International History, Loughborough University By choosing Kenya, the British government and monarchy seek to highlight the importance they attribute to the East African nation. It also shows other Commonwealth members that a republic can have a positive relationship with Britain. Some Commonwealth states like Jamaica are contemplating removing the king as head of state. King Charles’ visit is meant to celebrate the…

Nov

2023

By DUNCAN MIRIRI

King Charles expresses “deepest regret” for Kenya’s colonial wrongdoings

NEWS

KING Charles said he felt the "greatest sorrow and deepest regret" for the atrocities suffered by Kenyans during their struggle for independence from British colonial rule. But in a speech at the start of a four-day state visit to Kenya, he stopped short of making a full apology called for by survivors of that period and local rights groups who are pressing for reparations from the British government. "The wrongdoings of the past are a cause of the greatest sorrow and the deepest regret," Charles said during a state banquet. "There were abhorrent and unjustifiable acts of violence committed against…

Oct

2023

By MICHAEL HOLDEN and ANDREW MACASKILL

UK’s plan to deport migrants to Rwanda heads to top court

NEWS

THE British government will try next week to persuade judges at the country's top court to overturn a ruling which declared unlawful its divisive plan to deport to Rwanda asylum seekers who arrive in small boats across the Channel. In a blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government and his pledge to "stop the boats", London's Court of Appeal concluded in June the scheme to send tens of thousands of migrants more than 4,000 miles (6,400 km) to East Africa was not lawful, saying Rwanda could not be treated as a safe third country. On Monday, government lawyers will argue at the Supreme Court…

Sep

2023

By The African Mirror

Britain urged to swiftly return politician’s loot to Nigeria

NEWS

BRITISH and Nigerian civil society groups have urged the British government to return funds confiscated from Nigerian politician James Ibori, a convicted fraudster, to his country in a swift and transparent way so the money can benefit ordinary Nigerians. In a letter to Britain's home and foreign affairs ministers, a coalition of close to 50 NGOs said the long-delayed confiscation process had undermined the strong anti-corruption message sent by Ibori's conviction over a decade ago. "The years of disruption and delay in recovering and returning these stolen assets means this message has so far rung hollow for the Nigerian people,"…

Mar

2023

By The African Mirror

Britain to announce plan to house migrants on military bases within weeks, Sky News reports

WORLD

PLANS by the British government to move migrants out of hotels and into military bases or even disused ferries are expected to be announced within weeks, Sky News reported. Previous suggestions involving the use of holiday camps and student halls were less likely to be brought into action, the report said. The government has signalled it wants to end the use of hotels as asylum seeker accommodation. “We have always been upfront about the unprecedented pressure being placed on our asylum system, brought about by a significant increase in dangerous and illegal journeys into the country," a Home Office (interior…

Jul

2022

By The African Mirror

UK-Rwanda deportation plan to undergo judical review

NEWS

A judicial review into the legality of the British government's plan to deport migrants to Rwanda will start on September 5, London's High Court said on Wednesday. Under an agreement struck in April, Britain will send tens of thousands of migrants who arrive on its shores illegally more than 4,000 miles (6,4000 km) to the East African country. Migrants and charities are bringing a judicial review to challenge the policy's lawfulness. Thomson Reuters Foundation

Jul

2022

By The African Mirror

British govt warned against Rwanda deportation plan

NEWS

ANDREW MACASKILL BRITISH officials repeatedly warned the government not to pursue its plan to send migrants to Rwanda and the country was initially excluded from the shortlist of partner countries because of human rights concerns, London's High Court was told. Under an agreement struck in April, Britain will send tens of thousands of migrants who arrive on its shores illegally more than 4,000 miles (6,4000 km) to the East African country. The first planned deportation flight last month was blocked by a last-minute injunction from the European Court of Human Rights. The government has vowed to press ahead with the…