France, April 26 -- Under the new law, first agreed with the Rwandan government two years ago, any asylum seeker who travels to the UK illegally will be sent to Rwanda.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has promised the first flights will leave as soon as July. The Rwandan presidency, meanwhile, says it's "pleased" the plan is moving ahead.

But Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza - an outspoken critic of President Paul Kagame and who was once jailed after running against him - told RFI the deportation deal equated to "modern slavery" because Rwanda was being paid to take the people the UK does not want.

Her country, Ingabire said, was not ready to shelter hundreds or thousands of asylum seekers.

"Regime fanatics are saying the country will get...