Rwanda has reiterated that the UK is still obligated to pay the remaining sum from a controversial 2022 agreement to deport migrants, despite Britain abandoning the deal last year. The diplomatic row between the two nations has intensified after Britain suspended most financial aid to Rwanda over its involvement with the M23 group in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In a statement on Monday, Rwandan government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo confirmed that the UK still owes £50 million, following the £240 million already paid to Rwanda as part of the deal, which was initially struck under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
When Labour’s Keir Starmer assumed office in July 2024, he declared the migrant deportation agreement “dead and buried,” leading to an abrupt halt of the deal before it could be implemented. Rwanda has now insisted it will not return the initial payment and accused the UK of breaching trust by imposing what it called punitive measures after London’s decision to halt funding.
Makolo added that the UK had previously requested Rwanda to disregard the remaining payment in the spirit of “trust and good faith,” but that Rwanda feels these actions are undermining its national security. The dispute also escalated after inflammatory comments made by Lord Collins, the UK Minister for Africa, in Parliament.
Tensions have also been stoked by ongoing military actions in the region, with the M23 rebels, allegedly supported by Rwanda, continuing their offensive in eastern Congo, seizing territories such as Bukavu and Goma earlier this year.
