A legal dispute between Rwanda and the United Kingdom over a stalled migration partnership is set to be heard this week at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, Netherlands.
The hearing, scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, follows arbitration proceedings initiated by Rwanda in January concerning the Migration and Economic Development Partnership (MEDP), a bilateral agreement signed in 2024.
The MEDP was designed as part of broader UK efforts to manage irregular migration, with Rwanda positioned as a partner in hosting and supporting certain categories of refugees. Under the arrangement, the UK would relocate some asylum seekers and contribute financially to support refugee hosting and economic integration initiatives.
While the treaty established an overall framework, key operational details of the arrangement were not fully finalised before political developments in the UK altered its course.
Following a change in government in London in 2024, British authorities announced that they would no longer proceed with the partnership. The decision effectively halted the implementation of the agreement before relocation plans could take effect.
Rwanda’s decision to initiate arbitration centres on what it describes as unfulfilled financial commitments under the agreement.
According to Rwanda’s Ministry of Justice, both parties had agreed, through a binding exchange of diplomatic notes in June 2024, on financial arrangements to support refugee hosting and integration. These included two payments of £50 million each, scheduled for April 2025 and April 2026.
Rwanda argues that these obligations remain valid despite the UK’s decision to withdraw from the partnership.
According to Michael Butera, the Chief Technical Advisor to the Minister of Justice, under international law, termination operates prospectively. It does not affect obligations that had already accrued while the treaty remained in force.”
The case will examine the legal and financial responsibilities associated with migration agreements between African countries and European partners.
Analysts say the outcome could shape how future cross-border migration partnerships are negotiated, particularly regarding safeguards for financial commitments and the treatment of agreements affected by political transitions.
The proceedings at the PCA will determine whether the UK remains bound by aspects of the agreement, despite its withdrawal, and could set a precedent for similar disputes involving bilateral treaties.
