Rwanda has formally initiated arbitration proceedings against the United Kingdom before the Permanent Court of Arbitration over what it says is a breach of commitments under the Migration and Economic Development Partnership (MEDP), a bilateral treaty between the two countries.
Speaking to The New Times, Michael Butera, Chief Technical Advisor to the Minister of Justice, said Kigali first sought a diplomatic solution before resorting to legal action.
“Rwanda initially sought to clarify positions and explore possible paths forward, including discussions on the orderly conclusion of the partnership, provided any arrangements were mutually agreed and legally consistent,” Butera said. “As these exchanges did not result in a shared understanding, we exercised the dispute-resolution option expressly provided for in the treaty.”
He noted that the decision to pursue arbitration reflects Rwanda’s commitment to resolving inter-state disputes through established legal mechanisms.
“Arbitration offers a structured and neutral process through which both parties can present their positions and obtain a determination in accordance with international law,” he added.
What is in dispute
At the centre of the case are specific obligations under the MEDP. In June 2024, Rwanda and the UK exchanged binding diplomatic notes setting out financial arrangements to support refugee hosting and economic integration. Under this agreement, two payments of £50 million each were due in April 2025 and April 2026. According to Rwandan authorities, neither payment has been made.
The treaty also envisaged arrangements under which the UK would resettle a portion of the most vulnerable refugees hosted in Rwanda. Although a framework was provided, these arrangements were never finalised.
Complicating matters further, the new UK government that took office last year announced that it would no longer continue with the partnership.
Butera said these statements were made before the formal invocation of the treaty’s termination clauses. “Under international law, termination operates prospectively and does not extinguish obligations that had already accrued while the treaty was in force,” he explained.
Upholding the rule of law
Rwanda says the dispute goes beyond the MEDP itself and touches on a fundamental principle of international relations: that agreements between states must be honoured in good faith.
Kigali maintains that it entered the partnership in reliance on binding commitments and made significant institutional and financial preparations on that basis. Respect for agreed obligations, officials argue, is essential to trust and predictability in international cooperation.
On the way forward, Butera said the arbitration will proceed under the applicable rules and procedures of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
“Rwanda will participate constructively and professionally in the process,” he said. “Through arbitration, we seek a legal determination of the respective rights and obligations of the parties under international law. Rwanda remains committed to cooperation on migration, refugee protection and development, guided by the rule of law, reciprocity and the orderly settlement of disputes.”
Origins of the partnership
The MEDP originated from a UK request to explore new approaches to managing irregular migration. Rwanda engaged in the initiative in line with its long-standing commitments to refugee protection, working closely with UNHCR and promoting policies centred on dignity, self-reliance and socio-economic inclusion.
With decades of experience hosting refugees and pursuing inclusive development under Vision 2050, Rwanda viewed the partnership as consistent with its approach of linking humanitarian protection to long-term opportunity.
At the UK’s initiative, the arrangement was later formalised into a legally binding treaty, which entered into force in April 2024. The agreement established reciprocal obligations and предусмотрed arbitration as the mechanism for resolving disputes between the two states.
