Rwanda opens legal battle with UK over cancelled migrant relocation plan

4 days ago 7

Rwanda has opened an international legal battle against the United Kingdom after Britain scrapped a controversial asylum agreement that would have seen migrants who entered the UK illegally relocated to the East African country.

Rwanda opens legal battle with UK over cancelled migrant relocation plan

Rwanda has initiated an arbitration case against the United Kingdom at The Hague regarding the breach of a controversial asylum-relocation agreement.
The asylum agreement, initially established to deter irregular migration to the UK, was canceled in 2024 by Prime Minister Keir Starmer citing legal and ethical concerns.
The legal dispute centers around unpaid financial commitments within the agreement, amounting to £100 million, alongside its abrupt termination.
This disagreement reflects broader trends where Western nations pursue agreements with African countries to address irregular migration issues.

Kigali said late on Tuesday that it had filed an arbitration case at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, arguing that Britain breached the financial terms of the deal after cancelling it in 2024 under Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government.

The asylum arrangement was negotiated before Starmer took office and formed a key part of Britain’s strategy to deter irregular migration. Under the deal, Rwanda was to be paid to take in migrants who had arrived in the UK without authorisation.

Rwanda’s government said in a statement posted on X that Britain requested in 2024 that Kigali forgo two payments of £50 million each, due in April 2025 and April 2026, in anticipation of the treaty’s termination.

“Discussions between Rwanda and the United Kingdom did not however ultimately take place and the amounts remain due and payable under the treaty,” the government said, adding that it had therefore submitted a formal notice to the The Hague-based arbitration body.

The Daily Mail reports that the legal dispute is understood to focus on the UK Government's alleged failure to formally terminate the agreement in 2024.

The aborted scheme has already cost the UK taxpayer £715million, according to Home Office figures.

Why Western countries are turning to African states for migrant deals

The United States, under President Donald Trump, has renewed its hardline migration posture, with offshoring and third-country arrangements once again being discussed as tools to reduce pressure at the southern border.

Several European governments are also examining similar models, despite mounting legal challenges.

These agreements are typically backed by large financial packages, infrastructure commitments and broader economic cooperation, making them appealing to cash-strapped governments.

However, critics argue that outsourcing migration control to African countries shifts responsibility away from richer nations and exposes host countries to reputational and legal risks.

Rwanda’s decision to pursue arbitration against the UK highlights those risks and may prompt other African governments to demand clearer legal safeguards and stronger financial guarantees before entering into future migrant relocation agreements

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