The British government said that payments will not be made to Rwanda after the two countries’ immigration agreement is cancelled.
On Monday, Rwanda government spokesman Yolande Makolo said the UK had asked Rwanda to “quietly give up” the remaining payments – reportedly £50 million ($64 million), based on “trust and integrity.”
However, Rwanda has now asked the UK to pay the remaining money it owes, accusing the UK of breach of trust by suspending some aid to the country.
A UK government spokesman said in a statement: “The payment will no longer be made on this policy and Rwanda has waived any additional payments”.
Payments related to the Rwanda program, beyond “supporting the poorest and most vulnerable”, after the UK government announced bilateral aid to East African countries last month.
Britain decided to cut aid after accusing the country of supporting the M23 rebel group, which occupied the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in a deadly uprising.
Marcolo said on Monday that the aid cuts were “unreasonable punishment measures to coerce Rwanda to undermine our national security.”
Rwanda often denies support for the M23 rebel group, but has recently become more defensive, saying it must take steps to deal with the “existent threat” posed by genocide militias near its borders.
UN experts previously estimated that between 3,000 and 4,000 Rwandan troops were present in the east of Dr. Congo.
Marcolo said Rwanda will now “follow up” with outstanding payments related to UK “legally bound” immigration transactions.
The plan deported some asylum seekers to Rwanda designed by the Conservative government by 2022, losing £240 million ($310 million) in the UK before being scrapped by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Starmer, speaking in July last year, said the plan had been “dead and buried”, deemed “never a deterrent” and would only deport “less than 1%” of small boats arrived and deported.
“The Home Secretary is clear that the expensive immigration and economic development partnership with Rwanda wasted tax payments should not continue,” a UK government spokesman said in a statement.
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