As South Africans were getting plugged into their Monday morning meetings, a plane carrying 49 white South Africans would have landed at Dulles International Airport outside Washington, DC. They are en route to a new life in the United States, part of what the Trump administration is calling “Mission South Africa.”
Yes, you read that right. White Afrikaners are being granted refugee status in the US and in record time. All while refugee programmes for nearly every other country have been put on ice.
Let’s take a look at who’s in the refugee queue and what they’re fleeing from.
1. Afrikaners. Fleeing the unbearable burden of privilege?
The Trump administration’s decision to grant refugee status to white Afrikaners stems from what it describes as ‘government-sponsored race-based discrimination’ in South Africa. This claim hinges primarily on the newly introduced Land Expropriation Bill, which aims to redress racial inequalities entrenched during apartheid. Trump, along with his South African-born advisor Elon Musk, has been vocal about what they claim is persecution of white South Africans. Never mind the fact that white South Africans still own 78% of the country’s private farmland and possess around 20 times the wealth of black South Africans (who make up the majority of the country’s population). The term “refugee” has certainly taken on new meaning: fleeing the trauma of…farming disputes?
In February, Trump signed an executive order directing the US government to fast-track refugee applications for Afrikaners. “This is race-based persecution,” declared White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. He insisted that the US would not stand by and watch Afrikaners become “victims of unjust racial discrimination” — a statement that had many South Africans scratching their heads.
South African officials and civil society have been less than impressed. Chrispin Phiri, spokesperson for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, said the resettlement of Afrikaners “under the guise of being ‘refugees’ is entirely politically motivated and designed to question South Africa’s constitutional democracy”. What the South African government politely did not add; this move seems profoundly ironic, considering Afrikaners remain one of the most economically privileged groups in the country.
2. Afghanistan: Fleeing for their lives, but put on hold
Afghan women are fleeing prison-like conditions simply for being female. In 2021, following the withdrawal of US troops, the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan. Suddenly, being a woman became a crime worthy of house arrest. Going to school, working, or even singing in public? All punishable by Taliban law.
Many Afghans served alongside US forces during the two-decade war, risking their lives to fight for democracy and education. You’d think that kind of dedication would earn them a fast pass to safety, right? Wrong. Trump’s administration paused their resettlement, leaving thousands stranded in dangerous conditions.
In April, the Trump administration terminated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghans, leaving nearly 14,600 eligible individuals in legal limbo. While court challenges argued that the TPS termination lacked proper notice, the administration remains determined to block their entry.
Meanwhile, Afrikaners—who are apparently fleeing the “horrors” of land redistribution—got their paperwork stamped and were flown out to Dulles International Airport in just three months. Fleeing Afghanistan for being a woman? Denied. Fleeing South Africa for being white? Right this way, sir!
3. Democratic Republic of Congo: Escaping civil war and violence, but waiting in line
The DRC is one of the most dangerous places on earth, with civil war, militia violence, and mass displacement affecting millions. In 2024 alone, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported that 7.8 million people were internally displaced, marking the highest figure on record.
According to the UN, close to 6 million Congolese were internally displaced in 2024. Even more alarmingly, the World Food Programme’s most recent report classified 28 million people as acutely food insecure.
So, while Congolese families huddled in overcrowded camps and waited desperately for their turn, a plane full of Afrikaners touched down, greeted by US officials like long-lost family.
4. Sudan: Surviving genocide and famine, but not priority enough
Sudanese refugees have been fleeing for their lives from the Darfur genocide, ethnic violence, and a near-constant state of war. The UN estimates that more than 8 million people have been displaced from Sudan, with 1.5 million people seeking safety abroad.
Sudanese refugees have been running from famine and genocide for years. The Trump administration, however, stopped virtually all refugee admissions from the region. Makes sense when you consider the logic of helping those who need it least first, right? Court battles are ongoing challenging the Trump administration, citing the blatant disregard for international asylum laws, but progress has been slow.
In the meantime, Afrikaners (who, let’s be real, aren’t exactly dodging militias on their way to Woolworths) are being airlifted to the US.
5. Cameroon: Fleeing violent conflict, told to wait
The conflict in Cameroon, primarily between the English-speaking minority and the Francophone government, has driven thousands from their homes. Amnesty International has documented mass killings, political violence, and entire villages burned to the ground. The UN has called it one of the most underreported humanitarian crises in the world.
In April 2025, the Trump administration terminated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Cameroonian refugees, leaving nearly 8,000 people vulnerable. Human rights organisations pleaded with the US government to reverse the decision, citing widespread violence and political persecution. The administration ignored these calls, and deportations resumed.
It’s a hard pass for them, but Afrikaners? Now that’s a green light.
And so, as Afghan women wait in fear, Congolese families huddle in refugee camps, and Sudanese refugees check their emails for a sliver of hope, 49 white South Africans touched down in the Land of the Free. Safe from…well, whatever they think they were running from. Must be nice.
Emma is a freshly graduated Journalist from Stellenbosch University, who also holds an Honours in history. She joined the explain team, eager to provide thorough and truthful information and connect with her generation.
