Internal Displacement in Africa Triples in 15 Years

The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Africa has surged dramatically over the past 15 years, driven by escalating conflicts, violence, and natural disasters, according to a report released by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) on Tuesday.

By the end of 2023, 35 million people were internally displaced across Africa, accounting for nearly half of the global total of IDPs, IDMC chief Alexandra Bilak revealed.

“We have seen a tripling of the number of IDPs on the African continent over the last 15 years,” Bilak said. She noted that while conflict and violence remain the primary drivers, natural disasters, particularly floods, are increasingly displacing people.

Conflict: The Main Driver

The report highlights that 32.5 million people in Africa were displaced due to conflict and violence, with 80% of them concentrated in five countries:

• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Ethiopia
• Nigeria
• Somalia
• Sudan

Bilak explained that cyclical patterns of displacement exacerbate the crisis. “People displaced by conflicts 10, 15, or even 25 years ago remain unable to return home,” she said, adding that new waves of violence only add to the existing caseload.

Climate-Induced Displacement on the Rise

Disasters, particularly floods exacerbated by climate change, have also significantly contributed to displacement. Between 2009 and 2023, disaster-related displacement increased sixfold, from 1.1 million to 6.3 million annually.

Floods accounted for more than three-quarters of these movements, while droughts caused 11%.

Overlapping Crises

The IDMC emphasized that conflicts, violence, and disasters often overlap, creating complex crises where people are displaced multiple times or for extended periods.

Challenges in Addressing the Crisis

While the African Union’s Kampala Convention, adopted in 2009, provides a framework for protecting and assisting IDPs, governments face significant challenges in implementing it effectively.

The convention, which is the world’s only legally binding regional agreement on internal displacement, has been ratified by 34 African countries. Despite progress, rising conflicts and the increasing frequency of climate-driven disasters have outpaced efforts to address the crisis.

“It hasn’t fixed the problem,” Bilak admitted, emphasizing the need for robust peace-building, diplomacy, and conflict resolution measures. “Much more has to be done when it comes to transforming conflicts into peace. That is really the key issue.”

Impact of Displacement

The IDMC report highlighted the profound impact of displacement on individuals and communities. Displacement disrupts livelihoods, social ties, and cultural identities, leaving displaced populations more vulnerable. It also burdens governments with additional responsibilities for housing, healthcare, education, and social protection, setting back national development agendas.

The IDMC’s findings underscore the urgency of addressing Africa’s displacement crisis through comprehensive strategies that address both immediate needs and long-term solutions.