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On January 30, 2026, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) announced the commencement of an arbitration between the Republic of Rwanda and the United Kingdom under the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Rwanda and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the Provision of an Asylum Partnership to Strengthen Shared International Commitments on the Protection of Refugees and Migrants (Asylum Partnership Agreement).

According to the PCA announcement, Rwanda commenced the proceedings by Notice of Arbitration dated November 24, 2025, invoking Article 22 of the Asylum Partnership.

The dispute concerns alleged breaches by the United Kingdom of financial and resettlement obligations under the Agreement. Rwanda asserts that the United Kingdom requested it to forgo two £50 million payments due in April 2025 and April 2026 in anticipation of the treaty’s termination, but that no agreement on revised terms was concluded and the amounts remain payable. Rwanda further claims that the United Kingdom has failed to honour commitments relating to the resettlement of vulnerable refugees from Rwanda. The United Kingdom has indicated it will contest Rwanda’s position.