African Union Kampala Convention: The Continuing Dialogue on the Protection of Internally Displaced Persons in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The article focuses on the challenges of internal displacement in sub-Saharan Africa, where an estimated 40.5 million people were internally displaced in 2021, half of whom are under 18 years old. It evaluates the role and limitations of the African Union (AU) and its legally binding Kampala Convention—formulated in 2009 and enforced in 2017—in protecting and assisting internally displaced persons (IDPs) amid ongoing conflicts, violence, and disasters. The article highlights the failure of many AU member states to fully implement the Convention and calls for strengthened regional frameworks, improved governance, and enhanced support from state and non-state actors to address the humanitarian crisis. It also discusses the socio-economic and political drivers of displacement, including poverty, youth unemployment, corruption, and instability, emphasizing the need for durable solutions to improve the lives and rights of IDPs within their countries.