Britain, Rwanda Clash in £100m Legal Dispute Over Cancelled Migrant Deal
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Britain and Rwanda have taken their dispute over a scrapped migrant relocation agreement to an international arbitration court, with Kigali demanding more than £100 million in alleged unpaid obligations.
The case is being heard at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, where Rwanda argues that the United Kingdom failed to meet agreed financial commitments despite terminating the deal. Rwandan officials insist that previously scheduled payments remain legally binding, regardless of the agreement’s cancellation.
The original arrangement, introduced in 2022 under former UK leadership, aimed to transfer certain asylum seekers arriving in Britain to Rwanda for processing. However, the policy faced sustained legal challenges and was ultimately ruled unlawful by the UK Supreme Court.
Following a change in government in 2024, the new administration formally abandoned the plan, criticising it as ineffective and costly. Official figures indicate that only a handful of migrants were relocated under the scheme before it was scrapped.
Rwanda maintains that beyond outstanding payments, it incurred additional costs accommodating vulnerable refugees under a related agreement. It is also seeking a formal apology, accusing Britain of withdrawing from its obligations for political reasons.
In response, British representatives have dismissed Rwanda’s claims as weak and suggested the legal action is politically motivated, pointing to broader tensions between the two countries. Relations have been strained in recent months, particularly after the UK reduced financial aid to Rwanda over allegations linked to regional conflicts.
The arbitration panel is expected to take several months before delivering a final ruling.
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