The impact of the African Union Convention on the protection and assistance of internally displaced persons in Africa

Abstract

In 2009 the African Union Assembly adopted the Convention on the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (Kampala Convention). The adoption of the Kampala Convention was in response to the protection and assistance of persons displaced within the borders of the state. While there was a regional instrument that dealt with the protection of persons displaced outside state borders, the gap in the protection of persons displaced internally within state borders prompted the adoption of the framework. Hailed as a binding regional response to a global challenge, the Kampala Convention has emerged as an important framework since adoption. However, there is scant information and discussion about its impact on the protection and assistance of internallydisplaced persons. This article seeks to fill this gap by considering the impact of the Kampala Convention on the regional landscape on the protection and assistance of internally displaced persons in Africa.