International court unanimously rules in favor of UK in Rwanda asylum dispute News
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International court unanimously rules in favor of UK in Rwanda asylum dispute

The Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, in findings published on Monday, rejected the Republic of Rwanda’s claim for financial compensation from the UK for breach of its obligations under the Asylum Partnership Agreement.

The Asylum Partnership Agreement (the Agreement) entered into force in April 2024. The treaty between Rwanda and the UK aimed to “create a mechanism” for the option of relocation of illegal migrants from the UK, who wished to make a claim for “asylum or protection” in Rwanda. The Agreement also aimed to provide relocated individuals with “adequate tools to successfully integrate in Rwandan society,” in line with obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention and international law.

Rwanda brought arbitral proceedings against the UK in November, claiming that the UK government failed to comply with its obligations under the Agreement, namely Article 18 and Article 19, which stipulate:

Article 18 confirms that the Parties shall make financial arrangements in support of the relocation of individuals under this Agreement.

Article 19 provides that the Parties shall make arrangements for the United Kingdom to resettle a portion of Rwanda’s most vulnerable refugees in the United Kingdom.

The Agreement was terminated in 16 March under Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration. Rwanda claimed that the UK now owed £50 million for Year 2, and must make a payment of £10.4 million for Year 3. Rwanda also submitted a claim that the UK should pay “compensation for its breach of Article 19 of the Agreement in the sum of £6 million” or alternatively apologize for the breach.

The UK rejected these claims, and maintained that following the 2024 General Election, “the newly elected Government … decided that it would not pursue the scheme of relocating individuals to Rwanda and promptly notified Rwanda that it intended to terminate the agreement.” It also argued that in November 2024, both parties agreed to amend the 2024 Finance Agreement, where it was agreed that the UK “would not be obliged to make future payments in relation to the relocation scheme.”

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the UK and unanimously rejected Rwanda’s claims. The panel found that Rwanda “agreed to forgo any additional payments by the United Kingdom in April 2025 and April 2026.”

The findings and issuance of the award were made on May 15.

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