The number of internally displaced people on the African continent has tripled over the past 15 years, reaching 35 million, according to the International Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC).
In its report, the IDMC stated that rising levels of conflict and violence have caused the majority of displacements in Africa from 2009 to 2023, with an increasing number of people also forced to flee their homes due to natural disasters.
The report noted that 32.5 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) were displaced by conflict and violence, with 80% of this population concentrated in five countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Somalia, and Sudan.
The African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa, better known as the Kampala Convention, was signed in 2009 to address the issue of internal displacement on the continent.
Alexandra Bilak, director of the IDMC, stated that the situation in Africa is absolutely critical but not hopeless.
“There are many good examples on the continent where governments are working to address the root causes of displacement. It is important for them to maintain focus on this issue and for the international community to support their efforts,” Bilak said.
The IDMC report, part of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), emphasized that displacement in Africa disrupts lives, livelihoods, cultural identities, and social ties within entire communities, leaving them more vulnerable to the adverse effects of a wide range of challenges.
The IDMC urged governments to double their commitments to addressing the root causes of displacement through peacebuilding, climate action, and sustainable development.
