The United Kingdom has successfully defended itself against a compensation claim by Rwanda arising from the cancellation of the controversial Rwanda asylum partnership, according to reports by the BBC.
An international arbitration tribunal ruled that Rwanda was not entitled to more than £100 million (approximately E2.5 billion) it had sought from the UK after the scheme was scrapped by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s government.
The agreement, signed under the previous Conservative administration, was intended to allow asylum seekers who arrived illegally in the UK to be relocated to Rwanda, where their asylum applications would be processed. Those granted refugee status would have remained in Rwanda rather than returning to Britain.
Rwanda argued that it had invested substantial resources in preparation for the partnership and claimed the UK failed to honour its contractual obligations when it terminated the arrangement. The country also complained that it was not formally informed of the decision before details emerged in the media.
However, lawyers representing the UK told the tribunal that the Labour government was entitled to discontinue the policy after taking office in 2024. They maintained that no further payments were due and rejected allegations that Britain had breached the terms of the agreement.
The arbitration hearing was held over three days at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands. The tribunal ultimately ruled in favour of the UK.
The Rwanda scheme was first announced in 2022 under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and later championed by his successor, Rishi Sunak. It was presented as a deterrent to migrants attempting to cross the English Channel in small boats.
Despite significant political backing from the Conservative government, the policy faced numerous legal challenges. A planned deportation flight in 2022 was halted following intervention by the European Court of Human Rights, triggering a prolonged series of court battles.
Following Labour’s victory in the 2024 general election, Starmer’s government abandoned the programme, describing it as ineffective and unworkable. A separate voluntary relocation initiative was later introduced, offering unsuccessful asylum applicants up to £3,000 to move to Rwanda. According to reports, only four individuals participated in the programme.
Reacting to the ruling, a UK government spokesperson said Britain had “robustly” defended its position and remained focused on broader reforms aimed at strengthening border controls and tackling illegal migration.
Meanwhile, Conservative politicians argued that scrapping the Rwanda policy had weakened efforts to deter irregular migration. Refugee advocacy groups, however, maintained that the scheme created uncertainty within the asylum system and failed to deliver meaningful results.
Source: BBC News
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