Understanding the Kampala Convention: Its Relevance and Implementation in South Africa

By Reason Chingisa Baloyi As a law student and researcher at the University of South Africa, Reason has a keen interest in the frameworks that govern human rights and social justice, particularly in her home country. One pivotal legal instrument that addresses the critical issue of internal displacement in Africa is the Kampala Convention, adopted … Read more

Ambiguity of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the face of its IDPs

IDPs arrive in Munigi as Bosco Ntaganda fighters approach from Goma, the 1st of March 2013. © MONUSCO/Sylvain Liechti. MONUSCO/Sylvain Liechti

By Richard KASEREKA NDEKENINGE With more than a million internally displaced people, the DRC is one of the countries most affected by displacement, mainly due to armed conflict and serious human rights violations. Most of these IDPs are found in the eastern provinces of the country; most of them live with host families, and receive … Read more

Development displacement in Kenya: Case study of Solai Dam, Kenya

By Annette Opiyo Introduction The growing demand for hydro-power energy is the primary driving force for the increase in the number of dam constructions globally[1]. However, dam projects have had adverse effects on the population leading to internal displacement. In the last 20 years, over 300 million people in developing countries have been internally displaced … Read more

A glimpse of how the Kampala Convention protects internally displaced women in Nigeria

Juba, South Sudan, February 2017. driana Mahdalova

By Anya Itse Africa has been quite replete with border conflicts, ethnic clashes, religious crises, post-election violence, and insurgency. The risks associated with those mentioned above are forced migration and internal displacement. Displaced persons can be categorized into two namely refugees and internally displaced persons. As the verb displace implies, displaced persons are psychologically, physically, … Read more

Forced migration and displacement in Africa: contexts, causes and consequences

By Kevin M. DeJesus The impetus for this special issue is the continuing need to identify, deconstruct, situate, analyze and re-situate the regional, national and internecine conflicts which drive the forced migration of citizens of the continent, and their impacts on the lived experiences of those Africans forced to flee their homes. The contributors to … Read more

A birds eye view of laws and policies regarding IDPs in Kenya.

By Eron-Reece K Apolot Internally displaced persons (IDPs) are persons or groups of persons who have been forced or obliged to flee or to leave their homes or places of habitual residence, in particular as a result of or in order to avoid the effects of armed conflict. The United Nations Office of High Commissioner … Read more

Climate change and internal displacement

Authors: Zanele Christine Fengu, Meron Eshetu Birhanu and Bernice Asante “Internal Displacement and climate change are both highly complex phenomena. In the public debate we often hear about ‘climate-related displacement’ or even ‘climate refugees’, and very often this is done with a note of alert”. The Global Classroom on Human Rights recently held its annual … Read more

Understanding the implications of Institutionalizing the Kampala Convention in Ethiopia.

By Behaylu Girma. The African Union (AU) Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (Kampala Convention) is the first specific and legally binding document that clearly articulates the rights and duties of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the states. It specifies the general obligations of the state for the protection … Read more

Flooding Displacement in Malawi: Policy, Practice, and Prevention

By Christopher Babcock. 2020 was a relatively merciful year for Malawi—2019 was not. Cyclone Idai, which ravaged southeastern Africa, left 110,000 displaced in Malawi alone, according to the IDMC. The torrent wreaked havoc on Malawi’s poorest living in the southern region, tearing off roofs, destroying mudbrick homes, and bursting dams (Relief Web, “Learning from Cyclone … Read more

Protection of Internally Displaced Persons in Kenya: Legal challenges and recommendations.

IDPs arrive in Munigi as Bosco Ntaganda fighters approach from Goma, the 1st of March 2013. © MONUSCO/Sylvain Liechti. MONUSCO/Sylvain Liechti

By Janet Jebichii. Introduction Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are persons who have been forcefully caused to flee their homes by either conflicts, violence, disasters, development projects, human rights violations and are still within their national borders.[1] Development of legal and policy solutions to the problem of internal displacement in Kenya was enhanced after  the 2007-2008 … Read more