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What was supposed to be the start of a new life in Germany turned into a crushing setback for more than 180 refugees in April, when the country’s new government abruptly froze its participation in a United Nations resettlement programme.
For Chaste Zamukunda, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, the journey began with hope. In April 2025, she and her young son left a displacement camp in Kenya with official approval to travel to Germany. The relocation was part of a UN initiative to help vulnerable refugees rebuild their lives.
“When we heard we were going, we felt like we were being saved,” Zamukunda recalled. “We went to Nairobi and were put up in a good place. We ate well, we slept well. Then the bad news came: Germany has rejected us, we’re not going.”
Political Shift Brings Policy Change
The decision came just weeks after the centre-right party of Chancellor Friedrich Merz won the German federal elections in February. A core campaign pledge had been to reduce immigration. In line with that stance, the coalition government halted refugee admissions through the UN scheme in April.
According to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), 183 refugees in Nairobi alone were flown back to camps following the cancellation. Many had already undergone months, and in some cases years, of security checks, health screenings and interviews to qualify for resettlement.
‘No One Could Eat’
Among those affected was Dennis Kumer, a South Sudanese pastor who had spent two years completing the resettlement process with his family.
“It was not a good day for all of us. You found everyone falling sick,” Kumer said. “No one could eat their food.”
Germany’s freeze has impacted refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Afghanistan and other conflict-affected nations. The sudden reversal has prompted legal action.
Legal Battle Brewing
Immigration lawyer Matthias Lehnert says more than 50 families and individuals are now suing the German government. He argues that many had already received legally binding acceptance to travel.
“We are actually confronted with lots of individuals who have legal binding acceptances to get to Germany, and the government not only closes their eyes to the individual situation, but they are closing their eyes to the law,” Lehnert said.
The German Interior Ministry has stated that 4,711 people have arrived through the UN-led programme since 2024. Under an agreement with the European Commission, Germany had pledged to accept 13,000 refugees in 2024 and 2025 combined.
Wider Implications
The halt has not only stranded individuals but also cast uncertainty over the future of international refugee resettlement. The UN programme was designed to offer safe and legal pathways for people fleeing war and persecution, easing the strain on frontline host countries.
For Zamukunda and Kumer, the wait continues in limbo, their dreams deferred by a shift in political winds thousands of miles away.
“I just want a place where my son can be safe and go to school,” Zamukunda said softly. “I hope one day, the door will open again.”
As legal challenges proceed, humanitarian groups warn that the freeze could set a precedent for other countries to scale back on refugee commitments, potentially leaving thousands more trapped in protracted displacement.
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