African Union's Convention

On Friday 23^rd October, Reuters informed the world that the African Union adopted a convention on that day that obliges member states to protect and help internally displaced people (IDPs) of Africa.

Africa produces almost half the world’s internally displaced people, with their 12 million. The problem with the people who stay within the country is that they cannot appeal to the UN protection that is offered to refugees that flee out of their countries of origins.

The convention was signed by the 17 heads of states and government, including the presidents ofSomalia, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Nevertheless, the convention still needs to be ratified by the individual countries. Minimum 15 member states out of 53 members of the African Union have to sign the pact in order to put it into the force.

The convention was set up under the observation of UNHCR. The main purpose of the convention is to prevent displacement and come up with solutions to the cause of it, and provide IDPs with basic rights. Under the convention states that are unable to assist IDPs can seek help from humanitarian organizations. Furthermore, the states, and even armed groups, have the obligations to protect and assist their own uprooted citizens.

Source 1 . 2 . 3