Forced displacement of persons caused by internal strife has become one of the prevalent humanitarian crises of the 21st Century. This work examines the problem of refugees, internally displaced persons and victims of internal strife, using especially Africa and Nigeria as focal points. It argues that protecting victims of internal strife requires closing the legal gap between refugees and IDPs, also strengthening state responsibility and adopting integrated approaches that combine humanitarian aid, human rights and development.

References

1. UNHCR, Global Trends Report 2024. Geneva: UNHCR, 2025.

2. IDMC, Global Report on Internal Displacement 2025. Geneva: IDMC, 2025.

3. African Union Kampala Convention on IDPs in Africa, 2009.

4. OAU Refugee Convention, 1969.

5. United Nations, 1998, p. 1.

6. International committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), 2004)

7. UN Commission on Human Rights, Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, (11, February 1998) UN DOC E/CN 4/1998/53/Add2, Principle 2.

8. Kalin,(n.s) s.

9. World Bank, World Development Report 2022. (World Bank, 2022)89

10. Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (n.6).

11. OAU Refugee Convention (n. 7).

12. UN Guiding Principles (n 7)

13. African Union Convention for the protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa adopted 23 October 2009, entered into force 6 December 2012) art 2

14. Federal Republic of Nigeria, National Policy on Internal internally.

15. Ibid.

16. Ibid.

17. Ibid.

18. National Emergency Management Agency Act, Cap N34, LFN 2004.

19. Amnesty International, Nigeria: We Dried out Tears” (Amnesty 2023) 12.

20. UNHCR (n.2).

21. Human Rights Watch, World Report 2024: Nigeria, HRW 2024.

22. International Crisis Group, Herders against Farmers: Nigeria’s Expanding Deadly Conflict, (ICG 2018).

23. Amnesty International, Nigeria We dried Our Tears, (Amnesty 2023) 12.

24. Human Rights Watch, World Report 2024. Nigeria (HRW 2024)

25. International Crisis Group, Horders against Farmers: Nigeria Expanding Deadly Conflict, (ICG 2028).

26. Kampala Convention (n.15), Art. 3.

27. Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As amended), S.33.

28. National Emergency Management Agency Act, Cap N34, LFN 2004.

29. OGHA, Nigeria humanitarian needs overview 2024 (OCHA 2024) 22