Rwanda Refuses to Refund £270 Million for UK's Canceled Asylum Seeker Program
Rwanda has declared it will not refund the £270 million paid by the UK for a controversial asylum seeker program, even though the new UK government has canceled the initiative.
Dr. Doris Uwicyeza Picard, from Rwanda's Ministry of Justice, confirmed that Rwanda fulfilled its part of the agreement, which aimed to help the UK manage its asylum seeker issues. Kigali views this as a "UK problem" and does not expect a reimbursement.
Speaking to the BBC World Service, Dr. Uwicyeza Picard said, “We are under no obligation to provide any refund. We will remain in constant discussions. However, it is understood that there is no obligation on either side to request or receive a refund.”
The UK had paid Rwanda as part of the Migration and Economic Development Partnership, but no migrants were forcibly deported to Rwanda. Only four failed asylum seekers voluntarily went to Rwanda after receiving £3000.
Though British ministers have not officially notified Rwanda of the termination, Rwanda is aware of the new UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's decision to cancel the deal, announced post-election victory.
According to the agreement's break clause, the UK can withdraw from two scheduled £50 million payments in 2025 and 2026 without penalties. However, the UK is likely still responsible for funding the four asylum seekers already in Rwanda. Formal termination requires a three-month notice period.
Dr. Uwicyeza Picard reiterated Rwanda's commitment to the agreement, stating that Rwanda had increased its capacity to accommodate thousands of migrants and upheld its end of the deal. She emphasized that the partnership was initiated by the UK to solve its own problem, and Rwanda had stepped up as it often does to provide refuge and opportunities for migrants.
Dr. Uwicyeza Picard also addressed the criticism faced by Rwanda, stating that the deal was often misunderstood and unfairly targeted. She implicitly criticized the UNHCR, which uses Rwanda to accommodate asylum seekers from other regions but criticizes the UK-Rwanda scheme.
The termination of the agreement is further complicated by a group of Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers transferred to Rwanda from the British territory of Diego Garcia. They have reported feeling isolated and unsafe in Rwanda and are hoping for relocation by the UK.
Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, has ordered an audit of the Rwanda scheme’s costs and liabilities, with results expected before the summer recess in July.
Labour claims that scrapping the scheme will free up £75 million in the first year, which will be used to create a new Border Security Command. This command will include Border Force, MI5, and the National Crime Agency, aiming to tackle people smuggling gangs. Labour plans to hire hundreds of additional investigators and intelligence agents with counter-terror-style powers.
More than 90,000 migrants, who were marked for deportation to Rwanda, will now be processed within the UK's asylum system. The government may also face a substantial compensation bill for over 200 migrants detained for flights to Rwanda this summer without a realistic prospect of deportation.
A spokesperson for Ms. Cooper criticized the scheme, highlighting the wasted funds and calling for investments in border security instead.