The Hague, Netherlands – Rwanda has filed an arbitration case against the United Kingdom, claiming it is owed more than $130 million following the cancellation of a controversial asylum scheme. The case has been submitted to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, with Kigali accusing London of breaching the terms of the 2022 “migration partnership.”
Background to the Deal
The agreement, introduced by the UK’s Conservative government in 2022, stipulated that Britain would pay Rwanda to accept asylum seekers and immigrants who had arrived in the UK illegally. The plan was fiercely debated and faced multiple legal challenges before being scrapped in 2024 by current Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Rwanda’s Claims
According to Rwanda’s filing, Kigali had agreed to forgo further payments if the treaty was terminated and new financial terms were negotiated. However, Rwanda argues that such discussions never took place, leaving the country shortchanged.
The East African nation also accuses Britain of reneging on a promise to resettle vulnerable refugees with complex needs who were already being hosted in Rwanda under the partnership.
Legal Challenges in the UK
Before its cancellation, the asylum scheme faced intense scrutiny in British courts. The UK Supreme Court ruled that Rwanda was not a safe destination for asylum seekers, concluding that transferring migrants there would breach both domestic and international law.
What’s Next
The arbitration case now places the UK under international legal scrutiny, with Rwanda seeking compensation for what it describes as a breach of contract and broken promises. The outcome could set a precedent for how international migration agreements are enforced when governments change course.
