UK and Rwanda Head to International Court Over Scrapped Migrant Deal
THE HAGUE – The British and Rwandan governments are set to face each other at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, following a breakdown in negotiations over outstanding payments related to the now-defunct migrant deportation scheme.
Rwanda is demanding over $128 million from the United Kingdom, claiming that London has failed to honor financial commitments made under the controversial migration and economic development partnership.
The legal dispute centers on an agreement struck in 2022 under then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson, which aimed to send migrants arriving in the UK to Rwanda for processing and resettlement. Although the UK has already disbursed approximately $371 million to Kigali under the terms of the deal, Rwanda’s government insists that two additional payments of $64 million each remain outstanding.
Furthermore, Kigali is seeking roughly $8 million intended to cover the costs of housing vulnerable refugees, as well as a formal apology from the British government.
The plan, which faced fierce opposition from human rights groups and legal challenges from the outset, was formally abandoned in 2024. Shortly after taking office, Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared the policy “dead and buried,” fulfilling a key campaign pledge. The UK Supreme Court had previously ruled the scheme unlawful, citing concerns over Rwanda’s asylum system.
The financial arbitration adds another layer of strain to diplomatic relations between the two nations. Ties have recently been tested after the UK suspended certain aid packages to Rwanda amid allegations that the country is backing the M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rwandan officials vehemently deny these accusations.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration will now be tasked with determining whether the UK is contractually obligated to pay the disputed sums, despite having scrapped the underlying policy.
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