Key points:
- Rwanda demands £50M from UK over cancelled deportation deal
- Tensions escalate amid UK sanctions linked to Congo conflict
- Rwanda accuses UK of breaching trust and harming relations
RWANDA has demanded £50 million (over $63.5 million) from the UK following the Labour government’s decision to scrap a controversial deportation agreement, escalating diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
The agreement, originally signed in April 2022 under the UK’s previous Conservative government, allowed the deportation of irregular migrants arriving in the UK via the English Channel to Rwanda, where they would await asylum processing. However, Labour scrapped the policy after taking office, leading Rwanda to seek compensation for the termination of the deal.
Rwanda: UK breached trust
On Monday, Rwanda’s government spokeswoman, Yolande Makolo, stated that the UK had initially requested Rwanda to waive the payment based on “trust and good faith between our two nations.”
However, Makolo accused the UK of violating this trust through “unjustified punitive measures” aimed at coercing Rwanda into compromising its national security interests.
She also criticised UK Africa Minister Lord Collins of Highbury for making what she called “inflammatory and irresponsible comments” in Parliament regarding Rwanda’s role in regional security.
UK’s broader sanctions on Rwanda
The cancellation of the deportation deal comes amid broader UK sanctions against Rwanda, imposed due to allegations of Rwandan support for the M23 rebels in eastern Congo.
As part of these measures, the UK has:
- Suspended direct financial aid to Rwanda.
- Halted high-level government engagement with Rwanda.
- Paused defence cooperation between the two nations.
Rwanda has strongly rejected these allegations, arguing that the UK’s sanctions will not contribute to resolving the Congo conflict.
Escalating conflict in eastern Congo
The tensions between the UK and Rwanda are unfolding as violence in eastern Congo intensifies. The M23 rebel group, one of several armed factions in the region, has captured key cities, including Goma and Bukavu, worsening the humanitarian crisis.
According to Congo’s Health Minister, Samuel-Roger Kamba, the conflict has resulted in:
- Over 8,500 deaths.
- At least 5,700 injuries.
- Mass displacement of civilians.
What’s next for UK-Rwanda relations?
With diplomatic ties strained and Rwanda demanding compensation, the future of UK-Rwanda relations remains uncertain. The Labour government’s foreign policy shift could further impact trade, security cooperation, and regional stability efforts.
For now, Rwanda maintains that the UK’s decision undermines trust and damages long-standing diplomatic relations, signalling that tensions could escalate further in the coming months.
