British Prime Minister Boris Johnson defended his controversial migrant deal with Rwanda on a visit to the country on Thursday, telling critics to "keep an open mind."
On the first day of a trip to Kigali -- which is hosting a Commonwealth summit this week -- he also heaped praise on Rwandan President Paul Kagame and the achievements of the east African country, despite widespread concerns about its human rights record.
The UK-Rwanda scheme, which involves Britain deporting asylum seekers to the east African country located thousands of miles away, has provoked a storm of outrage.
But Johnson told reporters: "The critics need to keep an open mind about the policy."
"What the critics of the policy need to understand, and I have seen loads and loads of criticism, is that Rwanda has undergone an absolute transformation in the last couple of decades," said the British leader.
He held talks with Kagame about the deal and other issues, including the war in Ukraine, his office said.
Rights groups, church leaders and the United Nations have denounced the migrant arrangement, which has threatened to overshadow this week's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
One of the harshest opponents is reportedly the British heir to the throne Prince Charles, who has been quoted by the British media as saying it was "appalling."
Johnson said he would speak about the merits of the deal when he meets Charles, who is also in Rwanda as Queen Elizabeth II's representative at the Commonwealth summit, on Friday.
