Rwanda Seeks £100m From UK Over Axed Asylum Deal

Under the scheme, signed before Starmer took office, Britain agreed to pay Rwanda to take in migrants who had arrived illegally in Britain. It only managed to send four people voluntarily to Rwanda as legal challenges stalled the plan.

Rwanda has submitted a notice to the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration, arguing Britain had breached the financial arrangements of the “migration partnership”, its government said in a statement on X on Tuesday.

Rwanda said it was prepared to agree, provided the treaty was terminated and new financial terms were negotiated and agreed.

“Discussions between Rwanda and the United Kingdom did not, however, ultimately take place, and the amounts remain due and payable under the treaty,” the Kigali government added.

“We will robustly defend our position to protect British taxpayers and we are getting on with the job of focusing on effective ways to stamp out illegal migration, not costly gimmicks.”

Relations between Britain and Rwanda soured last year when London paused some aid over the Rwandan role in the war in Democratic Republic of Congo.

Rwanda has faced global pressure over accusations that it supports the M23 rebel group in eastern Congo.

Kigali denies backing M23 and has blamed Congolese and Burundian forces for renewed fighting that has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands in the past year.