Rwanda has declared it has “no obligation” to repay money given to them for the migrant deportation deal if the scheme flops.
Yolande Makolo, the Rwandan Government spokeswoman, only said they would “consider” the refund if flights do not take off.
She was speaking after President Paul Kagame said he is willing to pay back some of the £240 million given to Kigali as part of the deal.
Rwandan Government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo said the country has “no obligation” to return any of the funds paid but if the UK requests a refund “we will consider this” after president Paul Kagame suggested British taxpayers’ money could be repaid if the migrant deal failed.
She said in a statement: “The funds paid to Rwanda under the Migration and Economic Development Partnership are intended to both support Rwanda’s economic development, and to allow us to prepare to receive and care for the migrants when they arrive.
“Under the terms of the agreement, Rwanda has no obligation to return any of the funds paid. However, if no migrants come to Rwanda under the scheme, and the UK government wishes to request a refund of the portion of the funding allocated to support the migrants, we will consider this request.
“To talk about figures at this point is premature, as we are still awaiting the conclusion of the UK legislative process and remain committed to making the partnership work.”
The Home Office has paid the Rwandan Government some £240million despite being engulfed in Parliamentary and legal battles to get the first flight off the ground.
Asked if the scheme was working, the President of Rwanda said: “Ask the UK. It’s the UK’s problem, not Rwanda’s problem.
“The money is going to be used on those people who will come. If they don’t come, we can return the money.”
The offer of a refund is a fresh headache for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as attempts to guide his Rwanda Bill through Parliament.
Conservative rebels, who are urging Mr Sunak to toughen up his Rwanda Bill, immediately seized on President Kagame’s warning over repeated delays.
A Tory rebel source said: “As Michael Tomlinson explained this morning, the Government’s plan is going to need hundreds of judges to clear thousands of claims which will take months and months at a bare minimum.
“Rwanda want a plan that works quickly, not one that satisfies the whims of our Attorney General.
“The government should therefore back our plan. At this rate it will be Labour having to pay back the money.”
Some £240 million has already been committed to the Rwanda plan, with a further £50 million earmarked for next year.
Senior Home Office officials have so far refused to say how much more money the UK has already agreed to pay Rwanda under the initial five-year deal, when questioned by MPs.
Last month MPs heard Rwanda could walk away from its multi-million pound deal with the UK and keep the money “without accepting a single asylum seeker”.
The suggestion was made when the Home Office’s top civil servant was brought before a Commons committee to answer questions over the bid to send migrants to the African country.
The department’s permanent secretary, Sir Matthew Rycroft, told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) there was a “break clause” included in the memorandum of understanding the UK and Rwanda signed in April 2022 to seal the deal, which allows either government to walk away from it with three months’ notice.
He confirmed that if the UK instigates the break clause, Rwanda keeps the money already paid but added: “There is a presumption that the UK Government will want to continue with the partnership, bearing in mind its importance in the overall efforts to stop the boats.”
If Rwanda ends the agreement, Sir Matthew said the country’s government would have to repay the money “proportionately”.
