Gambiaj.com – (London, United Kingdom) – Rwanda has pushed back against British sanctions imposed over its alleged involvement with the M23 rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. In response, Kigali is demanding that London pay the outstanding balance of the controversial migrant relocation agreement, which was scrapped last year after the Labour government came to power.

According to Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo, the UK had “discreetly” requested Kigali to forgo the final payment under the agreement, citing the trust and goodwill between the two nations. “British authorities have betrayed this trust,” Makolo said, accusing the UK of taking “unjustified punitive measures to pressure Rwanda into compromising its national security.”

Rwanda is now demanding the remaining balance of over €61 million, adding to the nearly €280 million already paid by the UK before the project was abandoned in July 2024. Despite these payments, not a single migrant was relocated to Rwanda under the agreement.

Following British sanctions last week, Canada has also announced punitive measures against Rwanda, including suspending new commercial initiatives and halting exports of controlled goods and technologies to Kigali. Rwandan authorities condemned the move, calling it a “shameful” decision.