Tent Wars:Conflict-Induced Displacement and Displacement-Induced Conflict in Africa

Rebecca Rushing

Data Sources:

UNHCR Statistical Yearbook 2001;

Major Episodes of Political Violence 1946-2002, a document by Monty G. Marshall, Director for the Center for Systematic Peace

What is a Refugee?• 1951 Geneva Convention:

– “A person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country, or to return there, for fear of persecution.”

• Internally-Displaced Persons (IDPs) are not refugees

• Soldiers, gunmen, terrorists, and criminals are not allowed refugee status

Total Refugees Leaving

Angola

Burundi

Congo

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Liberia

Mauritania

Rwanda

Sierra Leone

Somalia

Sudan

Uganda

Western Sahara

Zaire

Why Flee?• Governments are unable or

unwilling to enforce laws– Often due to conflict or civil

unrest• Lives are threatened because

of race, religion, or creed– By the government of a state

or any other group that the government refuses to or is powerless to stop.

• Economic migrants are not considered refugees by international law

Where do Refugees Go?• Responsibility of nearest

bordering countries or territories– Once refugees migrate to

another country, it is a “host country”, with the responsibility to care for those refugees under the 1951 Geneva Convention

– States overwhelmed by large numbers of refugees often will offer temporary protection, allowing refugees to live in camps within the host country’s borders Tanzania, 1994; Thousands of displaced Rwandans struggled

to protect themselves from the elements at the Benako, Tanzania refugee camp

African Refugee Crisis • Refugees leaving their homes

because of conflict in Africa often are hosted by countries with similar levels of conflict

• Host countries are burdened with massive numbers of refugees, often hundreds of thousands arriving all at once

• Refugee migrations have the potential to make the host countries’ conflicts worse

• Refugees who arrive in a host country in the middle of a conflict often become victims of that conflict as well as the one they are fleeing from

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000

(people in thousands)

Angola

Burundi

Chad

Congo

Ethiopia

Kenya

Liberia

Rwanda

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Sudan

Uganda

Zaire

In or Out? Refugee Flows in Tumultuous African Countries

Total Coming In

Total Leaving