Kigali city hall features a prominent clock tower, representing Rwanda’s diplomatic efforts amid international disputes.
Rwanda is pursuing $134 million from Britain through arbitration after the UK scrapped the controversial refugee resettlement scheme in 2024. The 2022 deal, negotiated under former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, required Rwanda to host asylum seekers sent from the UK, prompting Kigali to invest heavily in facilities and administrative systems. However, Keir Starmer canceled the plan upon taking office. Kigali claims it had incurred significant costs on the project before learning about the cancellation through the media rather than official channels. While Britain claims that the two countries agreed Rwanda would forgo the payment, Rwanda denies it. The case, now before the Permanent Court of Arbitration, could take months to resolve, underscoring tensions over migration policy and international agreements.
AP