Rwanda has brought forth a claim for approximately £100 million against the UK in response to the British government's cancellation of a migrant deportation agreement. The announcement was made by Rwanda's justice minister and attorney general, Emmanuel Ugirashebuja, during a hearing before international arbitrators. Kigali had invested significantly in creating the necessary infrastructure for receiving migrants, including establishing an asylum appeals chamber and developing supportive administrative frameworks, which now bear costs due to the UK’s abrupt policy change.

The Migration and Economic Development Partnership (MEDP), initially announced in April 2022 under the government of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, aimed to send illegal immigrants from the UK to Rwanda as part of a broader strategy to curb illegal immigration. However, the agreement faced substantial legal hurdles, leading to no deportation flights taking place. December 2022 saw the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) intervene, which ultimately led to the UK higher courts declaring the scheme unlawful. This sudden disruption has left Rwanda in a precarious position as they had prepared for an influx of migrants that never materialized, leading to significant financial losses.

The outcome of this arbitration could have implications for the UK’s future immigration policies and its international agreements regarding migration. Rwanda's pursuit of monetary compensation highlights the tensions in the migration discourse, particularly the responsibilities and commitments made by states in bilateral agreements. The situation remains fluid as developments unfold in both the legal realm and international diplomacy concerning migration.