Philip Ozouf links with Rwanda

​​​Request ​797036173

Philip Ozouf links with Rwanda 

1. Please provide details of the nature, focus and depth of the Government of Jersey's relationship with Rwanda since the appointment of Deputy Philip Ozouf as External Relations Minister in 2022.

2. How is the work of External Relations conducted to ensure that this does not become a vehicle for the personal interests of the Minister for External Relations?

3. Does the previous employment of a Deputy 'with a recruitment company to bring people from Rwanda to work in Jersey' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp824r7pm9lo represent a conflict of interest when that same Minister is tasked with choosing to develop, or not, relationships with Rwanda in his brief as Minister for External Relations and whose recent conviction centres around his bringing of Rwandan nationals to the island?

4. Will the States of Jersey consider refining its Declarations of Interest for elected members given that Deputy Ozouf was under no requirement to declare his previous employment for the Rwandan Government, evidenced here https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp824r7pm9lo, as per current regulations, evidenced here https://statesassembly.je/members/philipozouf?

5. The Government of Jersey continues to prioritise deepening links with Rwanda both through diplomatic meetings such as https://www.gov.je/News/2020/pages/exrellondon.aspx and https://www.gov.je/News/2023/pages/chiefministerbuildsstrongerrelationswithrwandaandrepresentsjerseyatwomendeliverconference2023.aspx​ and through Jersey Finance, a membership organisation predominately financed by the tax payer https://african.business/2020/08/economy/rwanda-finance-x-jersey-finance-economic-cooperation-and-development. Does the Government of Jersey have any comment on the leadership of Paul Kagame, who multiple Jersey politicians have chosen to meet, given his continued controversies as an authoritarian leader who regularly arrests critics in Rwanda and facilitates the kidnap and extra-judicial killing of dissidents abroad, as well as continuing to fund and prolong a brutal conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo to to exploit their mineral wealth?

6. Rwanda continues to be ranked extremely poorly by non-Governmental organisations such as Amnesty International https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/africa/east-africa-the-horn-and-great-lakes/rwanda/report-rwanda/​. Does the Government of Jersey and the Ministry for External Relations have any measures in place to actively not engage with partners who clearly do not have the same respect for the rule of law, democracy and human rights as Jersey does, especially across the wider African continent and the Middle East?

Response

1. Jersey and Rwanda have maintained a formal cooperation framework since signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2016, updated in 2019 and 2024. The partnership focuses on areas such as international development, trade and investment, culture and heritage cooperation. The nature of this cooperation includes technical support, knowledge exchange, and capacity building.

2. External Relations does not hold data relating to this question as this concerns the codes of conduct and practice for Ministers. Therefore, Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies.

3. No conflicts of interest were declared, and External Relations does not hold data relating to this question. Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies.

4. External Relations does not hold data relating to this question. Therefore, Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies.

5. This question is not asking for data held by the department, it is asking for an opinion. Therefore, Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies.

6. The Government of Jersey follows the principle that engagement with global partners is the most effective way of supporting and encouraging ongoing progress relating to human rights. Moreover, the Government of Jersey’s international relations are conducted in accordance with wider UK foreign policy, noting the UK’s role as the sovereign state which is responsible for Jersey as a matter of international law.

Jersey maintains a robust sanctions regime coordinated by the Ministry for External Relations. These sanctions frameworks legally restrict Jersey from engaging with individuals, entities, or regimes that violate international norms—including abuses of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

Articles Applied:

Article 3 - Meaning of “information held by a public authority”

For the purposes of this Law, information is held by a public authority if –

(a) it is held by the authority, otherwise than on behalf of another person; or

(b) it is held by another person on behalf of the authority.​