The Rwandan government has made it clear that it will not be refunding the United Kingdom more than $300 million received since 2022 for a deal involving the deportation of asylum seekers considered to have entered the UK illegally. This decision comes after the newly-elected British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, expressed intentions to scrap the controversial agreement.
A spokesperson for the Rwandan government stated that the migrant deal with the UK did not contain any provisions for reimbursement. The spokesperson emphasized that once an international agreement is signed and implemented, there is no obligation for refunds if one party decides to withdraw from the arrangement.
According to information released by the British government in April this year, the UK has provided Rwanda with £240 million (approximately $307 million) as part of the deportation deal. Prime Minister Starmer, during his first press conference, denounced the scheme as a 'gimmick' and refuted claims that the financial aspect acted as a deterrent.
The controversial plan was initially introduced in April 2022 by the Conservative government under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. However, it faced significant opposition from lawmakers and activists on human rights grounds. The bill, which was eventually passed in April this year, aimed to discourage vulnerable migrants from undertaking dangerous crossings and disrupt the operations of criminal gangs exploiting them.
Various international bodies and organizations criticized the deportation agreement. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi expressed concerns that the deal sought to shift responsibility for refugee protection, potentially undermining global cooperation and setting a troubling precedent. Amnesty International UK labeled the plan as damaging to the country's moral standing and a direct threat to the legal protections of some of the world's most vulnerable individuals.
