The United Kingdom will not pay £100million to Rwanda after an international court ruled in favour of UK in a collapsed asylum deal with Rwanda government.
“We note that the dissenting and separate opinion by Professor Mohamed Abdel Wahab shows that the issues before the tribunal were complex and open to different legal conclusions, including that the November 2024 exchanges relied on by the UK did not validly change the financial arrangements between the two countries,” said Rwandan government spokesperson.
Keir Starmer cancelled the asylum deal shortly after taking office as Prime Minister in July 5, 2024. Rwanda reacted by dragging to court the UK government arguing that Starmers decision had breached the terms of the deal.
According to people privy to details of the case, Lawyers representing the UK during the three-day hearing in the Netherlands argued that it was “entirely logical” the plan would be scrapped when Labour came to power and “simple common sense” that no further payments would be due.
The deal had been previously okayed by the Conservative government of which Starmer of the Labour party would definitely not agree with.
“Rwanda is not entitled to any of the forms of relief it seeks,” lawyers representing the UK told the Hague’s Permanent Court of Arbitration.
The asylum deal between UK and Rwanda had been introduced by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The scheme was viewed as a deterrent to those looking to illegally cross the English Channel in small boats.
The plan had first been announced in 2022 by then-prime minister Boris Johnson.
It was designed so that asylum seekers arriving in the UK “illegally” from a safe country, such as France, would be sent to Rwanda and have their claims processed there.
If successful, they could be granted refugee status and allowed to stay in Rwanda.
Rwanda government said via the spokesperson that it respected the tribunal’s ruling and considered the matter concluded.
