Rwanda is seeking a £50 million payment from Britain following the cancellation of their asylum deal. This development comes after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer scrapped the previous government’s asylum plan, which would have seen Rwanda receive payment for taking in migrants who had illegally entered Britain.
The asylum deal was initially agreed upon by the prior Conservative government, but incoming Interior Minister Yvette Cooper stated that the plan had already cost UK taxpayers £700 million.
A British government spokesperson emphasized that no further payments would be made to Rwanda, citing that the Rwanda asylum partnership had wasted taxpayer money.
Rwanda’s government spokesperson, Yolande Makolo, claimed that Britain’s stance towards Kigali, including inflammatory comments by Britain’s Minister for Africa, drove their demand for payment.
Makolo stated that Britain had breached trust by imposing “punitive” measures, including pausing bilateral aid and diplomatic sanctions, over Rwanda’s role in the conflict in neighboring Congo.
Rwanda denies backing the M23 rebel group but claims its troops are acting in self-defense.
The asylum deal had stipulated that Britain would make payments of £50 million to Rwanda in April this year and next, but the National Audit Office noted that either party could activate a break clause to terminate the agreement.