Rwanda Sues UK Over Scrapped Asylum Seeker Deal

Rwanda Initiates Arbitration Proceedings Against UK Over Asylum Partnership Agreement

Rwanda has begun arbitration proceedings against the United Kingdom under the asylum partnership agreement, according to a statement from the Permanent Court of Arbitration. The country is seeking 50 million pounds ($68.8m) in compensation due to the UK’s failure to formally terminate the agreement.

The dispute centers on a now-scrapped agreement between Rwanda and the UK, which aimed to relocate deported asylum seekers to East Africa as a deterrent for those attempting to enter the UK by small boats. However, only four volunteers ultimately arrived in Rwanda, leading to the agreement being scrapped by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in July 2024.

Rwanda had initially sought diplomatic engagement with the UK before pursuing legal action. The country’s chief technical adviser, Michael Butera, stated that Rwanda regrets having to pursue claims through arbitration but was left with no other choice due to the UK’s intransigence on the issue.

The UK government has maintained its position, stating that it will robustly defend its stance to protect British taxpayers. Last year, the UK suspended most financial aid to Rwanda over backing the M23 group’s offensive in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which Kigali labelled as “punitive”.

The arbitration proceedings are ongoing, with the case status listed as pending on the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s website. The dispute highlights the complexities surrounding immigration and asylum policies in the UK, particularly since its departure from the European Union in 2020.

Source: Al Jazeera