An article by Lucy Middleton highlights the worsening plight of LGBTQ+ refugees in East Africa, particularly those displaced to one of EAC2's refugee camps.
[Update regarding country: The UNHCR has asked us not to name a specific country or the refugee camp in this country, as they are worried about the safety of the LGBTQ refugees. The relevant government has anti-LGBTQ legislation and the local culture is often homophobic and transphobic. We are therefore going to refer to this country as East African Country No. 2 - or EAC2 for short.]
Many fled Uganda and Kenya due to harsh anti-LGBTQ+ laws and rising violence, only to encounter renewed hostility, abuse, and forced relocations in EAC2.
Refugees report being harassed by government officials and threatened by local communities, leaving them fearful and confined indoors with limited access to food and safety.
The situation has been exacerbated by global aid cuts, Middleton argues, notably U.S. funding freezes under President Donald Trump, which have strained refugee services and halted resettlement programs. Asylum seekers who once hoped for relocation to safer countries now face stalled interviews and shrinking opportunities, while Western nations tighten asylum rules. Organizations like Rainbow Railroad note a sharp rise in requests for help, underscoring the growing insecurity.
Meanwhile, anti-LGBTQ+ legislation continues to spread across Africa, with countries such as Uganda, Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Mali enacting or proposing harsh laws. Refugees describe life in camps as dire, with poor housing, no education, and constant danger. Many express despair, longing for evacuation or a safe return home, though such options remain perilous.
Read the article over at Context.
Photo from South Sudan by REUTERS/Samir Bol
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