Rwanda has announced plans to take the United Kingdom to an international court, accusing it of failing to honor a bilateral agreement on relocating asylum seekers and irregular migrants.
The agreement, signed in April 2022 between Rwanda’s then-foreign minister Vincent Biruta and the UK’s former home secretary Priti Patel, was part of the Migration and Economic Development Partnership (MEDP).
It aimed to establish a framework for managing irregular migration to the UK while leveraging Rwanda’s experience in hosting refugees and supporting their integration.
Under the deal, the UK had pledged £50 million to support relocated migrants once relevant legislation was fully enacted, with £270 million already transferred.
Rwanda says it fulfilled its obligations, including preparing infrastructure, investing in social services and security, and developing programs to help refugees live independently.
The agreement, formally recognized under international law in April 2024, was set to run until April 13, 2027, with provisions for renewal or termination.
However, the plan to relocate migrants was halted in 2024 after the UK’s Labour Party came to power, arguing that the agreement did not address the rising number of irregular entries.
Dr. Michael Butera, senior technical adviser to Rwanda’s justice ministry, told The New Times that under international law, halting an agreement prematurely does not absolve parties of obligations already undertaken.
“Termination affects future obligations but does not cancel commitments that had already started while the agreement remained in force,” Dr. Butera said.
Rwanda has chosen to pursue arbitration through an international court in the Netherlands, seeking a thorough legal review of both parties’ rights and obligations regarding the implementation and termination of the MEDP.
Dr. Butera stressed that Rwanda will participate fully in compliance with international law and remains committed to cooperation based on mutual trust.
“Rwanda seeks a legally grounded assessment of the rights and obligations of each party under the agreement,” he said, adding that the country remains open to working with other nations on refugee and migration management through lawful, internationally recognized frameworks.
