A new report from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) has revealed a staggering rise in internal displacement across Africa, with the number of people displaced within their own countries tripling over the past 15 years. As of the end of 2023, approximately 35 million individuals are living in displacement across the continent, making up nearly half of the global total.
The IDMC’s report attributes this surge primarily to ongoing conflicts and widespread violence, but it also highlights the growing role of climate-related disasters, particularly floods, in displacing millions. “The majority of this displacement is being driven by conflict, but increasingly, it is also being caused by natural disasters,” said Alexandra Bilak, the IDMC’s director.
Although internally displaced persons (IDPs) often receive less media attention compared to refugees, their plight is no less severe. Displacement not only disrupts the livelihoods of individuals but also has devastating consequences on entire communities, leaving them more vulnerable and impeding national development. Displaced people often face challenges such as loss of income, the inability to pay rent or taxes, and increased pressure on public services like healthcare and education.
The report shows that five countries—Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Somalia, and Sudan—are responsible for 80% of Africa’s internal displacement. In many cases, individuals displaced by conflicts years ago are still unable to return home, with new waves of violence continuing to fuel the crisis.
Climate change has also become a key factor in exacerbating displacement. The report highlights that the frequency of disaster-related displacement has increased significantly, with figures rising sixfold between 2009 and 2023. Floods alone account for more than three-quarters of these displacements, with droughts also contributing to the growing crisis.
The African Union’s Kampala Convention, the continent’s first legally binding regional framework for protecting and assisting IDPs, remains an important tool in addressing the issue. Adopted in 2009 and enforced since 2012, the convention has been ratified by 34 African nations. However, the IDMC warns that rising conflicts, compounded by climate change, have outpaced efforts to resolve internal displacement.
Bilak stressed that addressing the root causes of displacement requires more robust peace-building initiatives and diplomatic efforts to resolve conflicts, particularly in the countries most affected. “The problem hasn’t been fixed,” she concluded, underscoring the urgent need for a comprehensive response to the growing displacement crisis in Africa.
