UK wins court case over canceled plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda
Key takeaways
- An international court has rejected a Rwandan claim for millions in damages over a scrapped deal to send asylum seekers to the East African nation.
- The incoming government called it a "gimmick" and a "shocking waste of taxpayer money," saying Britain had already spent the better part of a billion pounds on a scheme that was unlikely ever to take effect as envisaged.
- Echoes of Genocide: How Rwanda's past shapes Congo's presentTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
An international court has rejected a Rwandan claim for millions in damages over a scrapped deal to send asylum seekers to the East African nation.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Efps The Rwanda plan was part of former PM Rishi Sunak's unsuccessful bid to contain support for the far-right and Nigel Farage with his 'Stop the Boats' campaign (File: June 5, 2023)Image: Yui Mok/empics/picture alliance Advertisement International arbiters have rejected a Rwanda appeal for damages over the contentious refugee resettlement deal it had signed with the previous British government, which was scrapped by incoming Prime Minister Keir Starmer immediately after taking office in 2024.
The contentious plan, which seemed at risk of being annulled by British courts anyway, foresaw sending migrants who arrive in the UK illegally seeking asylum to Rwanda, where they would be permitted apply for asylum and residency.