Rwanda Launches £100 Million Legal Claim Against UK Over Terminated Asylum Agreement
The Labour government faces severe criticism after it emerged that Rwanda is pursuing a £100 million legal claim against the United Kingdom over the cancelled asylum partnership. An official statement from the east African nation has accused Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of "incompetent bungling" in his handling of the affair, revealing that the agreement remains technically in force due to unexplained delays in formal termination.
Legal Proceedings and Accusations of Government Mismanagement
Rwanda has lodged its claim at the Netherlands-based Permanent Court of Arbitration, as exclusively revealed earlier this week. The Rwandan government's statement criticised Sir Keir for announcing the end of the Migration and Economic Development Partnership (MEDP) in July 2024 "without prior notice to Rwanda, contrary to the spirit of the partnership."
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp seized upon the development, stating: "This shows yet more catastrophic incompetence from this weak Labour Government. They should urgently restore the deal and send illegal immigrants to Rwanda instead of to hotels up and down the UK."
Philp added: "Incompetent bungling is leading to court cases and a possible bill of £100 million or more. It is quite clear the Labour Government has messed this up from start to finish, while illegal immigrants continue to flood across the Channel."
Timeline of Failed Negotiations and Financial Disputes
The official Rwandan statement detailed how the UK requested in November 2024 that Rwanda forgo two payments of £50 million each, due in April 2025 and April 2026, anticipating formal termination of the treaty. Rwanda indicated willingness to accept these arrangements provided new financial terms were negotiated, but discussions never materialised.
The statement revealed: "Discussions between Rwanda and the United Kingdom did not however ultimately take place and the amounts remain due and payable under the treaty. Disappointingly, Rwanda's attempts to move the UK from its entrenched position have been unsuccessful."
Due to the delayed formal notification, the asylum agreement will only officially terminate on March 16, 2026, according to treaty terms. Rwanda has initiated three specific claims in arbitration:
- Two claims relating to alleged breaches of financial arrangements
- One claim regarding an alleged breach of agreement to resettle vulnerable refugees from Rwanda
Background and Consequences of the Cancelled Scheme
The Rwanda scheme was originally agreed in April 2022 between then home secretary Priti Patel and Rwandan minister of foreign affairs Vincent Biruta. The policy was just days away from implementation when Labour cancelled it upon taking office, despite having cost UK taxpayers approximately £715 million according to Home Office figures.
Since the deal's abandonment, Channel crossings have surged significantly. Latest Home Office data shows 36,273 migrants were in full-board hotel accommodation at the end of September, an increase of nearly 7,000 since Labour came to power, all funded by taxpayers.
The Rwandan statement concluded: "Rwanda regrets that it has been necessary to pursue these claims in arbitration, but faced with the United Kingdom's intransigence on these issues, it has been left with no other choice."
A Government spokesman responded: "We will robustly fight this in the courts to protect British taxpayers. The previous government's Rwanda policy wasted vast sums of taxpayer time and money."
Legal representatives include Rwanda's minister of justice and attorney general Dr Emmanuel Ugirashebuja, instructed Lord Verdirame KC of Twenty Essex chambers, while the Home Office has instructed Ben Juratowitch of Essex Court Chambers to defend the claim.
