Rwanda has accused the United Kingdom of owing £100 million following the cancellation of a controversial migrant resettlement agreement, escalating a legal dispute now being heard at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.
The deal, originally introduced in 2022 by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, aimed to send asylum seekers arriving in the UK to Rwanda for processing. However, it was scrapped in 2024 by Prime Minister Keir Starmer shortly after he took office.
Rwanda’s Justice Minister Emmanuel Ugirashebuja told arbitrators that the country had already invested heavily in infrastructure, including setting up an asylum appeals system and reception facilities, expecting payments under the agreement. He argued that the UK terminated the deal without prior notice and is now attempting to avoid its financial obligations.
The UK government, however, insists that both sides reached an agreement in November 2024 in which Rwanda would forgo the remaining payments — a claim Rwanda strongly denies. Legal experts say the outcome will likely hinge on whether that agreement can be proven.
The controversial policy had already faced widespread criticism and legal challenges. The UK Supreme Court previously ruled the scheme unlawful, stating Rwanda could not be considered a safe destination for asylum seekers. Former Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the initiative as a costly failure, estimating it consumed around £700 million in public funds.
As arbitration proceedings continue, the case highlights tensions between international agreements and domestic policy shifts, with a final ruling expected to take months or longer.
