Rwanda sues UK over scrapped asylum seeker deal

In January 2026, Rwanda initiated legal action against the United Kingdom through the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, seeking £50 million in compensation. The dispute stems from the UK's refusal to disburse payments under a scrapped agreement where Rwanda would receive deported asylum seekers. The controversial deal, brokered in 2022, was intended to deter illegal immigration to the UK. However, only four volunteers arrived in Rwanda before Prime Minister Keir Starmer terminated the agreement in July 2024. Rwanda claims the UK failed to formally terminate the agreement and pursued legal action after diplomatic efforts failed. The UK had already paid Rwanda £240 million before the deal was abandoned.

Rwanda has initiated legal action against the UK at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Netherlands, seeking payments it claims are owed from a scrapped migrant deal. The deal, established by the previous UK Conservative government, involved the UK paying Rwanda to host asylum seekers. After the Labour Party won the 2024 election, Prime Minister Keir Starmer cancelled the agreement, halting future payments. The UK Home Office stated that £220 million in scheduled payments would not be paid, while Rwanda argues the UK is failing to honor its commitments. Rwanda seeks a legal determination of both countries' obligations under the treaty, which included a clause allowing either party to terminate the agreement.