Rwanda’s Deputy Government Spokesman, Alain Mukuralinda, stated on Tuesday (July 9) that Rwanda is not required to repay funds from the UK’s failed asylum-seeker deportation scheme. Mukuralinda’s comments come after the UK’s incoming Labour leader, Keir Starmer, declared on Saturday that the controversial policy was “dead” and vowed to end it.

“This was not a loan given to Rwanda; this was money sent to carry out specific actions,” Mukuralinda explained. “These actions have been carried out, and there is no reason why these funds should be returned.”

Mukuralinda clarified that the UK government has not requested a refund and that if the UK decides to terminate the treaty, Rwanda will simply comply.

The deportation scheme, which aimed to deter migrants from attempting to enter the UK illegally by offering them a one-way ticket to Rwanda, was initially heralded as a solution to the UK’s immigration issues. However, the plan has faced significant legal challenges and has yet to see any deportation flights take off. The project has cost the UK government $300 million.

Mukuralinda emphasized that Rwanda remains open to participating in new migration solutions if proposed. “We remain as we are, we keep our philosophy that if there is someone that needs help, we will help them,” he said. “If there are other proposals to solve the problem of migration, we will take part, we will negotiate, and we will examine them.”

Under the $462.7 million agreement signed in 2022, British taxpayers’ money funded the construction and maintenance of facilities in Rwanda for hosting deported asylum-seekers. Mukuralinda assured that these facilities will not go to waste. “The migrants are not coming anymore, so Rwandans will live in those dwellings,” he said.

Earlier this year, Botswana’s foreign minister, Lemogang Kwape, revealed that the UK government had approached Botswana to receive migrants as part of a similar scheme, alongside proposals for countries like Armenia, Ivory Coast, and Costa Rica.