Hometruths for EA summit on IDPs, refugees

Most African States are also not eager to ratify the African Charter on democracy, elections and governance on IDPs.

The charter is a legal instrument that spells out a number of obligations that countries should honour.

The AU Commission, however, says it will promote the charter through civil society and national parliaments.  

There was also intense debate on some of the provisions in the Convention, which demand that African States make national laws to protect IDPs under international law.

This would ensure provision of humanitarian assistance and rule out arbitrary displacement of people. 

The debate centered on ending support to armed groups, and to holding them responsible for the refugee and IDPs crisis. Several countries did not want the provision included.

“We deplore and call for an end to external interference such as the support for mercenaries and sponsoring of armed groups that have fuelled conflict in Africa,” African countries said in their declaration.

By contrast, IDPs remain at the mercy of their government, which may view them as enemies of the state.

They may also fall prey to rebels and militias operating inside or outside the camps. 

Signatories are mandated to protect the human rights of IDPs and prevent war crimes, arbitrary killing and detention, abduction, torture, rape, slavery and recruitment of child soldiers. 

Very broadly, the convention obliges states to prevent displacement, to protect IDPs and to provide durable solutions. 

They must establish a legal framework to provide compensation where appropriate for damages and losses incurred as a result of displacement.  

The soft approach taken by some countries towards refugees also deepened a rift between them and those countries from which the refugees fled. 

For instance, Rwanda has in the past proposed forceful repatriation of its refugees, saying they are a threat to the Kigali government. 

But prior to the Kampala Summit, President Yoweri Museveni called for a multi-model system of managing refugees and IDPs through academic and vocational training.