Cancelled Asylum Deal: Rwanda Seeks $63.62m From Britain
By Juliet Vincent
Rwanda is seeking $63.62 million from Britain for a cancelled asylum deal, Sputnik Africa reports.
It could be recalled that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer cancelled the prior Conservative government’s plan after taking office last July.
The plan would have seen the UK pay Rwanda to accept migrants.
However, the new Interior Minister Yvette Cooper said it had already cost UK taxpayers $899 million and should be discontinued.
The payment demand was triggered by Britain’s stance towards Kigali, including “inflammatory comments” by the UK’s Minister for Africa.
Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo said the UK requested Rwanda forego the payment based on existing trust, but that trust was broken by “unjustified punitive measures,” Makolo added.
Under the terms of the agreement, Britain was supposed to pay Rwanda $63.62 million in April of this year and next, according to the parliament’s spending watchdog, the National Audit Office.
The agreement included a break clause, allowing either party to cancel with three months’ notice, relieving Britain of further payments beyond relocation costs.
