What does Trump’s refugee suspension mean for Africa?

The US decision is a blow to comprehensive refugee responses and could have a lasting impact on African refugees.

Date: 2025-06-04

Time: 14:00 to 15:30

Venue: Online via Zoom

In January, United States (US) President Donald Trump suspended the country’s refugee resettlement programme, cutting off legal pathways for thousands of refugees who had already been cleared for travel. Meanwhile, the US offered resettlement to South African Afrikaners under a separate policy track.

This seminar will explore the humanitarian consequences of the suspension, its implications for Africa’s refugee protection frameworks, and how non-state actors and regional bodies can respond to restrictive global migration policies.

This event is co-hosted by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and the African Non-State Actors Platform on Migration and Development.

Moderator: Ottilia Anna Maunganidze, Head of Special Projects, ISS

Panelists:

• Abdullahi Halakhe, Senior Advocate East/Southern Africa, Refugee International
• Paddy Siyanga Knudsen, African Non-State Actors Platform on Migration and Development (TBC)
• Jamin Kusuania, Senior Advocacy Manager, International Rescue Committee