Rwanda Launches Lawsuit Against UK Over Failed Migration Deal

(MENAFN) Rwanda has initiated legal proceedings against the British government concerning a contentious migration agreement that London scrapped approximately two years ago, according to a statement issued late Tuesday.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer terminated the bilateral arrangement—negotiated by his predecessor's administration—upon assuming office in July 2024, amid widespread criticism from human rights advocates.

London had allegedly transferred £240 million ($330.9 million) to Kigali prior to the deal's cancellation.

In November 2024, the UK requested that Rwanda waive two scheduled £50 million installments due in April 2025 and April 2026, claiming it was acting in expectation of the treaty's formal dissolution, according to Kigali.

Rwanda signaled willingness to accept such modifications if the treaty were officially terminated, contingent upon renegotiating and finalizing revised financial conditions.

However, negotiations between Rwanda and the UK never materialized, leaving "the amounts remain due and payable under the treaty," the statement said.

Kigali filed the case with the Netherlands-based Permanent Court of Arbitration last November after the UK made clear it has no intention of making further payments under the treaty.

In its official statement, Rwanda accuses the UK prime minister of declaring that the deal was "dead and buried" without prior notice to Kigali, contrary to the spirit of the partnership.

The East African nation also alleges the UK violated treaty provisions regarding "respect of the financial arrangements" and "refusing to make arrangements to resettle vulnerable refugees from Rwanda."

"Rwanda regrets that it has been necessary to pursue these claims in arbitration, but faced with the United Kingdom's intransigence on these issues, it has been left with no other choices," the statement added.

Britain had finalized a controversial migration agreement with Rwanda in April 2022 designed to relocate certain migrants arriving in the UK via the English Channel to the East African nation for asylum claim processing.

Following his inauguration, Starmer declared he would discontinue the previous administration's deportation policy to Rwanda, characterizing it as "gimmicks that don't act as a deterrent."

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