Rwanda has taken legal action against the United Kingdom, demanding more than £100 million over a cancelled migrant resettlement agreement.
The case is being heard at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands. Hearings began on March 18 and are expected to continue for several days, with a final decision likely to take months.
Rwanda argues that the UK failed to meet its obligations under a 2022 migration deal signed during the government of former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The agreement aimed to send migrants arriving in the UK to Rwanda, where their asylum claims would be processed.
In return, Rwanda was to receive funding to support resettlement efforts, including building reception centres and handling asylum procedures. However, the plan was abandoned after Keir Starmer became prime minister in 2024.
Rwanda’s Justice Minister Emmanuel Ugirashebuja told the court that the UK ended the agreement without proper notice. He criticised the move, saying Rwanda was left to learn about the decision through the media.
The Rwandan government is now seeking two outstanding payments of £50 million each, along with an additional £6 million linked to a separate agreement involving vulnerable refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
UK lawyers have rejected the claim, arguing that Rwanda’s case is weak. They say both sides had reached an understanding in late 2024 that no further payments would be made after the deal was scrapped, a claim Rwanda strongly denies.
The controversial policy faced heavy criticism and legal challenges in the UK. It was eventually ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, which blocked the government from proceeding with deportations to Rwanda.
Despite the large investment, only four migrants were sent to Rwanda under the scheme, all voluntarily. Reports suggest the UK spent around £700 million on the project, including costs for flights, staffing, and preparations that were never fully used.
Experts have also linked the legal dispute to wider political tensions. Some analysts believe the case may be influenced by the UK’s decision to suspend aid to Rwanda over alleged involvement in regional conflicts.
The arbitration process is ongoing, with both countries expected to present final arguments before the court in the coming days.
The outcome of the case could have major implications for future migration agreements between countries, especially those involving offshore asylum processing.