Displacement, minorities, and human security

Abstract

Before the last century, Africa could be termed as having been a "dynamic area" with people in constant motion. However, within the same duration, the continent has also had a period of inertia in relation to mass movements of people, thanks to colonialism. Ironically, it is during this period that sub-Saharan African states have posted the highest number of displaced persons. Africa today has more displaced people than any other continent in the world. By the end of 2002, it had 13 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and about 3.6 million refugees." The statistics of countries affected by the IDP problem reveal that there are about 4.5 million IDPs in Sudan; 2.5 million in the Congo; and 1.1 million in Zimbabwe. This not only indicates the huge presence of IDPs and their habitation, but also affirms the existing disparity between refugees and lOPs. Although there are positive developments with respect to a reduction in IDPs in Sierra Leone, a bleak scenario is in the offing in Uganda and Sudan where the levels of lDPs are on the increase as shown in the global IDP report: "And both in Uganda and Sudan, upsurges in fighting in 2002 caused IDP numbers to increase considerably - notwithstanding on¬going peace talks in both countries.t'-' There are many other IDPs, known or unknown, in Cote d' I voire, Kenya, Liberia, and Somalia and a number of other African countries. This article therefore seeks to discuss displacement and minorities within the context of human security in Africa. Although it discusses displacement in general, it also focuses more on the IDPs. The debate will concentrate mostly on Eastern Africa