A critique of the rights of refugees under the OAU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa

Abstract

Generally speaking, a refugee is a person forced to leave home for certain specified reasons and who is outside the country of his or her origin and does not have its protection. It is currently estimated that between 20 and 40 million refugees are spread across the world due to forced and involuntary movements, and is thus one of the most traumatic problems facing the world today. Conflicts and other life threatening disasters occur daily, forcing people to flee their countries of residence to seek refuge in other countries for safety. Africa has the largest number of refugees, hence there is a need for a regional convention that will adequately provide a cushion for the problems that may arise from this deluge. As the name implies, the 1969 OAU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugees' Problems in Africa seems to be such a desirable Convention. The Convention has many positive aspects, but leaves much to be desired in terms of tackling the basic problems encountered by refugees in Africa. There is consequently a need for a total overhaul of the Convention to make it more positively responsive to the contemporary challenges posed by refugee problems in Africa. East African Journal of Peace and Human Rights Vol. 12 (2) 2006: pp. 152-182