Rwanda demands £100 million from Britain after the failure of the asylum agreement
Britain is facing a large financial claim from Rwanda amounting to nearly £100 million, following the collapse of the controversial asylum agreement between the two countries, in a new development that reflects the ongoing political and legal repercussions of this issue, according to the Austrian news agency APA.
The background of the dispute dates back to the agreement that came into effect in April 2024, which stipulated the deportation of migrants who entered Britain illegally to Rwanda, in exchange for significant financial support for the latter to ensure their reception and social and economic integration, as part of a British attempt to curb illegal immigration.
However, the agreement did not last long, as the new British government led by the Labour Party canceled it after winning the elections in July 2024, which led to escalating disputes with Rwanda, which confirmed that it had not received a formal written notification of the termination of the agreement, despite taking practical steps to implement it.
Rwandan Minister of Justice Emmanuel Ugirashebuja stated before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that his country has incurred significant costs due to the establishment of administrative and legislative structures to accommodate asylum seekers, in addition to equipping facilities designated for them, which forms the basis of the current financial claim.
In contrast, the British government rejects these demands and is preparing to present its legal defenses before the arbitration panel, where the hearings are scheduled to last several days, with the final decision expected to be issued in the coming months, amid the complexity of the legal aspects related to the agreement.
The agreement has sparked widespread controversy from the beginning, especially after the UK Supreme Court ruled it illegal. The current government also revealed that the project cost around £700 million, despite the fact that the number of people actually deported to Rwanda did not exceed four individuals and was with their voluntary consent.
Despite the failure of this model, the idea of deporting migrants to third countries is still on the European agenda, as EU countries seek to study similar legal frameworks, while Rwanda has confirmed its readiness to continue international cooperation in this area.