Rwanda is requesting $63 million from the UK for the canceled asylum arrangement, according to a source

A source close to the Kigali government said Tuesday that Rwanda is requesting a payment of 50 million pounds ($63.62 million) from Britain for a terminated refugee contract. This comes after London suspended some bilateral funds to the African nation due to the Congo war.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer canceled the previous Conservative government’s asylum scheme, which would have compensated Rwanda to accept migrants who had entered the country illegally, when he took office in July.

That month, the plan had already cost UK taxpayers $790 million, according to incoming Interior Minister Yvette Cooper.

An emailed response from a British government spokeswoman stated that Cooper had made it plain that the Rwanda asylum collaboration was a waste of taxpayer funds and should not go forward.

“As stated clearly in notes verbale between the UK and Rwanda, no further payments in relation to this policy will be made and Rwanda has waived any additional payments,” a spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Reuters was informed by a source close to the Rwandan government that Kigali was requesting 50 million pounds in compensation for the terminated deal.

According to Rwanda’s government spokesman Yolande Makolo, the demand was sparked by Britain’s attitude toward Kigali, particularly what she called the British Minister for Africa’s divisive remarks.

“Based on the trust and good faith existing between our two nations, the UK had asked Rwanda to quietly forego the payment,” Makolo said late Monday in a post on X.

“However, the UK has breached this trust through the unjustified punitive measures to coerce Rwanda into compromising our national security,” she said.

In a move Kigali described as “punitive,” Britain said last week that it will suspend certain bilateral funding to Rwanda and impose additional diplomatic restrictions due to its involvement in the crisis in neighboring Congo.

Rwanda is under international criticism over claims that it backs the M23 rebel group, which has taken control of large areas of eastern Congo since January, including the cities of Goma and Bukavu, as well as important mineral resources.

While denying any support for the group, Kigali claims its own troops are defending themselves against adversarial groups located in the Congo.

In April of last year, the National Audit Office (NAO), parliament’s spending watchdog, stated that Britain was expected to pay 50 million pounds to Rwanda under the terms of the asylum agreement.

According to the NAO, either Rwanda or Britain might initiate a break clause that would go into force three months later.

As a result, the NAO stated that Britain would not be required to pay anything more than the costs of the relocated individuals.

Through a voluntary program, Britain only sent four individuals to Rwanda.