Rwanda has filed legal action against the United Kingdom over unpaid funds linked to a now-defunct migrant relocation agreement, marking a major escalation in a controversial dispute.
The deal, signed in 2022 under former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, sought to curb illegal migration by relocating asylum seekers arriving by boat to Rwanda. However, the policy collapsed after the UK Supreme Court ruled that Rwanda was not a safe destination for asylum seekers.
Although the UK paid Rwanda $330.9 million, only four migrants were ever transferred before Prime Minister Keir Starmer officially scrapped the plan in 2024.
Rwanda is now seeking an additional $68.9 million, claiming the UK failed to formally terminate the agreement. The British government has stated it will vigorously contest the claim, setting the stage for a potentially protracted legal dispute.
Analysts say the case highlights the complexities of international migration agreements and the financial and diplomatic stakes involved when such deals collapse.
