THE HAGUE, Netherlands — An international arbitration tribunal convened under the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) has ruled against the Republic of Rwanda in a dispute with the United Kingdom concerning financial obligations and commitments under the UK-Rwanda Asylum Partnership Agreement.
The decision, released by the PCA on June 1, follows proceedings initiated by Rwanda after the United Kingdom terminated the controversial asylum partnership program that had been designed to relocate certain asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda for processing and potential resettlement.
The arbitration centered on Rwanda’s allegations that the United Kingdom failed to fulfill financial commitments and other obligations outlined in the agreement. Rwanda argued that Britain still owed substantial payments under financial arrangements negotiated between the two governments and sought compensation related to the termination of the partnership.
During hearings held in The Hague, Rwanda requested that the tribunal declare that a £50 million payment designated for the second year of the agreement remained due and payable. Rwanda also sought additional payments linked to the third year of the arrangement, compensation for alleged breaches of the agreement, and interest on outstanding sums.
The United Kingdom rejected Rwanda’s claims and asked the tribunal to dismiss all allegations, maintaining that its actions complied with the terms of the agreement and subsequent arrangements between the parties.
In its final award issued on May 15, 2026, the three-member tribunal largely sided with the United Kingdom. The panel rejected Rwanda’s claim that the UK remained obligated to make the disputed £50 million second-year payment. The tribunal also dismissed Rwanda’s request for third-year payments and rejected claims that Britain had violated Articles 18 and 19 of the Asylum Partnership Agreement.
Additionally, the tribunal determined that each side would be responsible for its own legal costs, while arbitration expenses would be shared equally between Rwanda and the United Kingdom. Although the majority of the tribunal ruled against Rwanda’s position, one member of the panel, Professor Dr. Mohamed Abdel Wahab, issued a dissenting and separate opinion. In his view, the evidence supported Rwanda’s argument that the second-year payment remained due and payable.
The arbitration was conducted under Article 22 of the UK-Rwanda Asylum Partnership Agreement and the PCA Arbitration Rules. Rwanda formally initiated proceedings in November 2025, arguing that the United Kingdom had failed to honor obligations connected to the asylum partnership. Hearings took place at the Peace Palace in The Hague in March 2026.
The tribunal was chaired by former International Court of Justice Judge Peter Tomka of Slovakia. Other members included Professor Dr. Mohamed Abdel Wahab of Egypt and Judge Joan Donoghue of the United States. The Permanent Court of Arbitration served as the registry for the proceedings.
The publication of the award brings formal closure to one of the most significant legal disputes arising from the UK-Rwanda migration partnership, a program that generated extensive political and legal debate in both countries and attracted international attention regarding migration management and refugee protection policies.
