Rwanda is seeking a 50 million-pound ($63.62 million) payment from the United Kingdom after London scrapped an asylum deal and suspended some bilateral aid, a source close to the Kigali government said. The move follows Britain’s decision to pause funding over Rwanda’s alleged involvement in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The asylum agreement, introduced by the previous Conservative government, aimed to send migrants who arrived illegally in Britain to Rwanda in exchange for financial compensation. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration abandoned the deal upon taking office last July, with Interior Minister Yvette Cooper revealing it had already cost UK taxpayers 700 million pounds ($890 million).
A British government spokesperson stated that no further payments would be made, citing formal diplomatic exchanges between the two nations. The UK maintains that Rwanda previously agreed to waive any additional financial claims under the deal.
Rwanda’s government spokesperson, Yolande Makolo, challenged this assertion, saying Britain had damaged bilateral trust. She referenced what she called inflammatory remarks by the UK’s Minister for Africa and the decision to impose diplomatic sanctions on Rwanda.
“The UK had asked Rwanda to quietly forego the payment based on trust and good faith,” Makolo posted on X. “However, the UK has breached this trust through unjustified punitive measures to coerce Rwanda into compromising our national security.”
Britain has paused portions of its bilateral aid and imposed sanctions, alleging Rwandan support for the M23 rebel group in eastern Congo. Kigali denies backing the rebels, insisting its forces are acting in self-defense against hostile groups based in Congo.
Under the original asylum deal, Britain was set to pay Rwanda 50 million pounds in April 2025 and April 2026. The UK’s National Audit Office noted that either side could invoke a break clause, ending further payments after three months. Only four people have been relocated to Rwanda under a voluntary scheme.
