The Rwandan government is pursuing legal action to seek £50 million in damages from the United Kingdom following the recent cancellation of a controversial migrant transfer scheme. The scheme, intended to process asylum seekers in Rwanda after denial of their claims in the UK, has faced significant backlash due to human rights concerns and international scrutiny. Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo has accused the UK government of attempting to quietly bypass payment, which the UK denies, stating that Rwanda had waived additional payments according to a BBC report.
This dispute adds to existing tensions between the countries, exacerbated by the UK’s suspension of foreign aid and trade restrictions following Rwanda’s alleged involvement in the situation in Eastern Congo. Rwanda maintains these are unjustified punitive measures. The UK’s decision is part of a broader diplomatic response to Rwanda’s reported military activities in the DRC, raising further concerns among the international community regarding Rwanda’s human rights record, especially in the context of the migrant transfer deal as noted by the UN.
The treaty had been heavily criticized, with allegations that it violated international law obligations and risked refoulement, where asylum seekers might face persecution after being transferred. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has emphasized that the UK’s obligations under international law do not support such agreements, marking the treaty as a significant point of contention. The UK government, now led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has ended the scheme following the Labour party’s victory in the general election, acknowledging the arrangements as ineffective migration policy and welcoming UN experts.
Further complicating affairs, a British parliamentary statement by Lord Collins raised insinuations of Rwanda’s involvement with terrorist activities in the DRC, leading to diplomatic protests from Rwanda, including a demand for apology and clarification from the British High Commissioner in Kigali. This underscores the fragile state of UK-Rwanda relations, amidst an already tense geopolitical environment surrounding Rwandan activities in the region.