Rwanda takes United Kingdom to arbitration over migration partnership breach

Today, on 27 January 2026, Rwanda confirmed it has formally initiated arbitration proceedings against the United Kingdom at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands, following a dispute over alleged breaches of commitments under their Migration and Economic Development Partnership (MEDP). The MEDP was a legally binding agreement aimed at addressing irregular migration by enabling the UK to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing and supporting Rwanda’s economy in return. Under the treaty, both countries agreed on specific financial arrangements, including two sch

Today, on 27 January 2026, Rwanda confirmed it has formally initiated arbitration proceedings against the United Kingdom at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands, following a dispute over alleged breaches of commitments under their Migration and Economic Development Partnership (MEDP). The MEDP was a legally binding agreement aimed at addressing irregular migration by enabling the UK to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing and supporting Rwanda’s economy in return. Under the treaty, both countries agreed on specific financial arrangements, including two scheduled payments of £50 million each due in April 2025 and April 2026. These payments have not been made following the UK government’s decision to discontinue the partnership after a change in leadership.

Rwanda initially engaged in diplomatic discussions to resolve differences, but when those talks failed to yield common ground, Kigali turned to the arbitration mechanism explicitly provided for in the treaty. Michael Butera, chief technical adviser to Rwanda’s Ministry of Justice, said arbitration offers a neutral and structured process under international law for determining each party’s rights and obligations. The move underscores Rwanda’s commitment to international legal processes and reinforces the principle that agreements between sovereign states should be honored in good faith, even amid shifting political landscapes.