Rwanda is demanding a £50 million ($63.6 million) payment from Britain over the cancellation of a controversial asylum deal, a source close to the Kigali government told Reuters on Tuesday. The demand follows the UK’s decision to pause some bilateral aid to Rwanda over its alleged role in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The asylum scheme, introduced by the former Conservative government, would have seen Rwanda receive payments to resettle migrants who arrived in the UK illegally. However, Prime Minister Keir Starmer scrapped the plan after taking office in July 2024, with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper later revealing it had already cost UK taxpayers £700 million ($890 million).
A source close to the Rwandan government said Kigali is now seeking compensation for the cancelled agreement.
Rwanda’s government spokesperson, Yolande Makolo, suggested the demand was triggered by Britain’s recent actions, including what she described as inflammatory remarks by the UK’s Minister for Africa.
“The UK had asked Rwanda to quietly forego the payment based on the trust and good faith existing between our two nations,” Makolo posted on X late Monday. “However, the UK has breached this trust through the unjustified punitive measures to coerce Rwanda into compromising our national security.”
The UK Foreign Office has not commented on the matter.
Last week, Britain announced it was pausing some aid to Rwanda and imposing diplomatic measures over Kigali’s alleged support for the M23 rebel group, which has seized key cities and mineral-rich territories in eastern Congo since January. Rwanda denies backing the group, insisting its forces are only acting in self-defense against hostile militias in Congo.
The aid freeze and asylum dispute mark a sharp deterioration in UK-Rwanda relations, raising questions about the future of diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries.
