- After the asylum deal was scrapped, Rwanda seeks £50 million (Sh8.23 billion) from Britain.
- UK paused some bilateral aid to Rwanda over its alleged role in the Congo conflict.
- British PM Keir Starmer cancelled the asylum deal upon taking office in July.
- The deal had already cost UK taxpayers £700 million (Sh115 billion), according to UK officials.
- Rwanda accuses Britain of breaching trust and using punitive measures to pressure Kigali.
Rwanda is demanding a £50 million (Sh8.23 billion) payment from Britain following the cancellation of an asylum deal, a source close to the Kigali government revealed on Tuesday. The demand comes after London paused some bilateral aid to Rwanda over its alleged involvement in the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer scrapped the asylum plan in July, which was initially introduced by the previous Conservative government. The controversial deal would have allowed migrants who arrived illegally in the UK to be relocated to Rwanda in exchange for financial compensation. The UK had already spent £700 million (Sh115 billion) on the project before its cancellation.
A British government spokesperson stated that no further payments would be made, as Rwanda had previously waived additional compensation. However, Rwanda’s government spokesperson, Yolande Makolo, accused the UK of breaching their agreement and using “unjustified punitive measures” to pressure Rwanda into compromising its national security.
The diplomatic tensions escalated last week when Britain paused some bilateral aid and imposed diplomatic sanctions on Rwanda over accusations that Kigali supports the M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rwanda denies these claims, insisting that its military presence in Congo is solely for self-defense against hostile groups.
Under the asylum deal, Britain was due to make payments of £50 million in April 2024 and another £50 million in April 2025. However, a break clause in the agreement allowed Britain to cancel further payments apart from costs related to relocated asylum seekers.
Notably, only four people were sent to Rwanda under a voluntary scheme before the deal was abandoned.
