Britain and Rwanda have entered a high-stakes legal dispute at an international court, with Kigali seeking more than £100 million over a cancelled migrant deportation agreement.
The case, being heard at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, centers on a controversial 2022 deal under which the UK planned to send asylum seekers arriving through irregular routes to Rwanda. The scheme was ultimately abandoned after facing significant legal and political challenges, including a ruling by the UK Supreme Court declaring it unlawful.
Rwanda argues that despite the termination of the agreement, the UK remains obligated to fulfill outstanding payments, including two annual installments totaling £100 million. Kigali is also seeking an additional £6 million to cover costs related to hosting vulnerable refugees, as well as a formal apology for what it describes as a breach of trust.
London, however, has dismissed the claims, describing Rwanda’s arguments as legally weak and suggesting the dispute is politically motivated. British authorities have linked Kigali’s position to tensions following the UK’s decision to suspend financial aid over allegations of Rwanda’s involvement in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo—claims Rwanda strongly denies.
The arbitration, expected to last several months, highlights broader diplomatic strains between the two countries. It also revives debate around migration policy in the UK, where border control remains a highly sensitive political issue.
Source: TRT Africa
