Rwanda says it will not return money to the UK

As part of the deal, dubbed the "Rwanda Plan", the UK will give Rwanda around half a billion pounds in development funding in exchange for taking in migrants.

The UK's independent public spending watchdog said in early March that the country had paid Rwanda £220 million (about $280 million), even though no asylum seekers who came to the UK were deported to the African country.

The UK hopes the deal with Rwanda will deter potential asylum seekers from trying to cross the Channel in small boats. Photo: EPA

The “Rwanda Plan” was introduced by the previous Conservative government to stop illegal migrants from crossing the English Channel to the UK in unsafe boats. However, the new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer abandoned the plan after taking office last week.

The agreement does not include a refund clause, said Alain Mukuralinda, deputy spokesman for the Rwandan government, on Wednesday.

“The British decided to ask for cooperation for a long time, which led to an agreement between the two countries that became a treaty,” he said in a video posted on social media by the Rwanda Broadcasting Authority. “Now, if you come and ask for cooperation and then withdraw, that is your decision.”

Alain Mukuralinda, deputy spokesman for the Rwandan government, said the asylum agreement with Britain did not include a return clause. Photo: Reuters

Another official, Doris Uwicyeza Picard, the migration partnership coordinator with the UK, said in a statement late on Wednesday that her country had “no obligation” to repay the money.

Under the agreement, either party can terminate the agreement by giving written notice to the other. It is unclear whether the UK gave written notice to Rwanda before new Prime Minister Keir Starmer scrapped the plan last Saturday.

Quang Anh (according to New York Times, BBC)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/ke-hoach-nguoi-di-cu-bi-huy-bo-rwanda-noi-khong-tra-lai-tien-cho-vuong-quoc-anh-post302962.html