Audio By Carbonatix
The UK government has said it will not send further payments to Rwanda following the cancellation of the migrant deal between the two countries.
On Monday, Rwanda's government spokesperson Yolande Makolo said the UK had asked Rwanda to "quietly forgo" the remaining payment - reportedly amounting to £50m ($64m) - based on "trust and good faith".
However, Rwanda has now asked the UK to pay the remainder of the money it says it is owed, accusing the UK of breaching trust by suspending some aid to the country.
In a statement, a UK government spokesperson said that "no further payments in relation to this policy will be made and Rwanda has waived any additional payments".
The row over payments linked to the Rwanda scheme comes after the UK government announced it would halt bilateral aid to the east African country last month, except for "support to the poorest and most vulnerable".
The UK took the decision to cut aid after accusing the country of supporting M23, a rebel group that has captured swathes of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in a deadly uprising.
The aid cuts have amounted to "unjustified punitive measures to coerce Rwanda into compromising our national security", Makolo said on Monday.
Rwanda has often denied backing the M23 rebel group, but has recently been more defensive, saying it has had to take measures to deal with the "existential threat" posed by genocidal militia near its borders.
UN experts have previously estimated that between 3,000 and 4,000 Rwandan troops are in eastern DR Congo.
Makolo said Rwanda would now be "following up" on outstanding payments relating to the migrant deal to which the UK was "legally bound".
The plan to deport some asylum seekers to Rwanda, devised by the previous Conservative government in 2022, cost the UK £240m ($310m) before being scrapped by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Speaking in July last year, shortly after being elected, Starmer said the plan was "dead and buried", arguing that the scheme had "never been a deterrent" and would only deport "less than 1%" of small boat arrivals.
In a statement, a UK government spokesperson said: "The Home Secretary has been clear that the costly Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda wasted tax-payer money and should not continue."
Latest Stories
-
Stacy Mense’s ‘W’ahyira Me’ gains airplay on radio, digital platforms
6 minutes -
Economic activities mixed in 7 months of 2026; Cement sales decline by 10%
8 minutes -
GFA and Sports Ministry must not rush Black Stars head coach appointment – Nana Fitz
15 minutes -
Nkrumah Showboy: Chief Moomen’s play to explore Ghana’s first President’s early years
24 minutes -
SEC to develop Social Bond Guidelines; over half of listed firms report on ESG indicators
37 minutes -
Insurance firms have up till January 2027 to incorporate ESG in financial reporting
43 minutes -
High Court throws out Afenyo-Markin’s GH¢15m defamation suit against Sammy Gyamfi
54 minutes -
Rollover cost of T-bills reduced substantially, one-year bill yield drops 19% since December 2024
54 minutes -
Daily Insight for CEOs: Preparing for 2027 Board and Executive Conversations
1 hour -
World Cup Visa Scandal: There is no ‘justification’ to dismiss me – Kofi Adams
1 hour -
2028 Olympic Games qualification ‘really tough’ – Black Queens coach Björkegren
2 hours -
GRFU, GOC Women’s Commission hold breast cancer awareness, expresses gratitude to Sunda International Ghana
2 hours -
COCOBOD raises GH¢3.4bn as Cocoa Capital PLC lists inaugural commercial paper on GFIM
2 hours -
No Party Card, just a Party Microphone! A Ghanaian story of Elections, Referees and Convenient Amnesia
2 hours -
Minority welcomes suspension of teachers’ strike, demands timely payment of promotion arrears
2 hours