AU holds special summit to address Africa's refugee problem

By Tai Beiping

The African Union (AU) held its first ever special summit on refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons here Thursday in the Ugandan capital Kampala.

During the Oct. 22-23 meeting, the heads of state are expected to make a solemn declaration in which they are expected to commit themselves to taking concrete measures to address the root causes of forced displacement.

They are also expected to endorse and sign the AU Convention on the Protection and Assistance to Internally Displaced Persons in Africa.

Delivering a message from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, United Nations High Commissioner Antonio Guterres said at the opening ceremony that the summit demonstrated Africa's determination to solve this disturbing problem of refugees and internally displaced persons.

He said that to solve this problem, conflicts must be ended, communities must cooperate with each other, children must go back to schools and confidence must be restored among the displaced persons.

Guterres in his speech urged the African leaders to continue showing their commitment in solving the problem of forced displacement.

"We need your will, your courage and your leadership. Refugee status and internal displacement must not be an inheritance that is handed down from one generation to the next," he said.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who opened the summit, said that the root causes of forced displacement especially conflicts need to be carefully studied so that long lasting solutions are found.

He urged African countries to consider local integration of refugees as one of the mechanisms to solve the refugee crisis.

He said the process however needs to be carried out carefully so that the local communities do not conflict with the refugees over land.

Africa has the largest number of refugees and internally displaced persons in the world. It has over 17 million refugees and internally displaced persons.

While addressing the summit, AU Commission Chairperson Jean Ping said he saw a strong signal of Africa's determination to address the refugee problem.

Jean Ping said a proper solution to the refugee problem is not only related to African countries' peace and security, but also critical to the continent's future development and growth.

On Friday, the African leaders will endorse by the end of the summit the AU Convention on the Protection and Assistance to Internally Displaced Persons in Africa, which is expected to be an effective legal instrument for the protection of refugees and internally displaced persons.

Source: Xinhua