Africa-Press – Rwanda. A permanent arbitration court has announced that the UK will not have to pay tens of millions of pounds to Rwanda regarding the canceled agreement to deport asylum seekers to the East African nation.
The court, based in The Hague, stated that it rejected all financial claims made by Rwanda, which argued that the UK was still obligated to fulfill the terms of the agreement that Prime Minister Keir Starmer canceled in 2024.
Starmer had scrapped the asylum plan set by the previous Conservative government, under which funds would be paid to Rwanda for hosting migrants who arrived in the UK illegally.
Emmanuel Ugirashebuja, Rwanda’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General, previously told the court that his country incurred “significant costs” in preparing for this partnership, but the UK “sought to evade its legal obligations” thereafter.
He also stated that the UK “did not proactively inform Rwanda” of its decision to cancel the agreement, and that leaders “had to read about this development in the media.”
Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had proposed this scheme as a deterrent for those attempting to cross the English Channel illegally in small boats.
At that time, Prime Minister Boris Johnson first announced the plan, which was designed to send asylum seekers arriving in the UK “illegally” from a safe country, such as France, to Rwanda where their applications would be processed.
The first scheduled flight under this program was delayed in 2022 just minutes before takeoff due to intervention from the European Court of Human Rights, leading to a series of legal challenges in London courts. The program faced numerous legal battles before its ultimate cancellation. Court documents showed that Kigali was demanding at least £60 million ($80 million).
A panel of three judges, by majority vote, ruled that Rwanda agreed in November 2024, under diplomatic notes, to “waive any additional payments from the UK in April 2025 and April 2026,” according to the court.
Details were published on Monday in excerpts from the ruling that the court stated it issued on May 15. Ultimately, only four individuals were voluntarily sent to Rwanda under the asylum agreement, which faced legal challenges before its cancellation.
The Rwandan government stated that it respects the court’s decision but noted that the issues are complex and subject to different legal interpretations. Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo said in a statement: “Rwanda will continue to work constructively with international partners, guided by international standards and mutually beneficial cooperation.”
The UK government stated that it “strongly” defended its position. An official spokesperson said: “The previous government’s policy wasted time and £700 million of taxpayers’ money to send only four migrants to Rwanda.”
Relations between the UK and Rwanda deteriorated last year when London halted some aid due to Rwanda’s role in the ongoing war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rwanda faces international pressure over allegations of supporting the M23 rebel group in eastern Congo.
Kigali denies supporting the M23 movement and blames Congolese and Burundian forces for the fighting that has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands over the past year.
