Official Statement: AFRICAN UNION COMMEMORATES WORLD REFUGEE DAY

By: H.E. Amb. Minata Samate Cessouma - Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, African Union ‎Commission

Addis Ababa, 20 June 2023. The African Union Commission joins all AU member states, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and all concerned stakeholders around the world including Refugees and Asylum Seekers, in marking the Africa and World Refugee Day today, 20 June 2023.

The Africa Refugee Day has been celebrated on 20 June every year since 1974 in pursuit of the noble objectives of the 1969 OAU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa. The same day was also adopted by the United Nations in 2001, and it has been celebrated side-by-side as World Refugee Day since then. The day illuminates the plight of refugees and celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home countries in order to escape conflict, terrorism, or persecution. This year’s theme “Hope away from Home: A world where refugees are always included” focuses on solutions for refugees and the power of inclusion. The African Union has always advocated for African solutions for African problems, and with regard to refugees and other forced displaced persons, the African spirit of Ubuntu underpins the action of granting asylum to those seeking safety in brotherly African member states’ territories.

The AU marks this important day at a time when the continent is facing major challenges driven majorly by conflicts, unconstitutional change of government, violent extremism and effects of climate change, including natural disasters. These have combined to create a complex and protracted crisis, leaving millions of people in need of humanitarian assistance. It estimated that Africa hosts more than 8.5million refugees and Asylum Seekers, and also has over 4.2million refugee returnees who are equally in need of protection and assistance to re-integrate into their former places of residence. Another 28.5 million people are also recorded to be displaced within their countries of origin as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPS). This dire humanitarian situation is compounded by funding shortfalls that have contributed to significant reduction in food and water for displaced populations relying on food aid for sustenance which further amplifies the cross-sectional protection needs of the most vulnerable.

Against this backdrop, the Commission commends member states for their steadfast solidarity with refugees and displaced persons even as they face various socio-economic and political challenges of their own. The Commission further calls on member states to consider putting in place laws and policies that will support socio-economic inclusion of refugees in national systems and plans, which will assist to overcome adverse effects of forced displacement, and increase the resilience of refugees to lessen their reliant on Aid. The Commission remains acutely cognizant of the heavy burden placed on member states, considering that the continent carries the heaviest burden of refugee hosting. The Commission therefore calls on the International Community to not tire from efforts aimed at easing this huge burden for African States, particularly that associated with refugee inclusion, and expresses gratitude for ongoing support in this regard.

The Commission takes this opportunity to further reiterate its commitment to its member states to continue working together in the efforts towards humanitarian response, and for the implementation of policies relating to forced displacement of populations in their respective countries. Steadfast in its strong commitment to the protection of refugees, IDPs and vulnerable migrants, the Commission has numerously demonstrated its strong concern for displaced persons through the enactment of several ground-breaking Legal Instruments aimed at protecting displaced people, including the 1969 OAU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa and the 2009 AU Convention on the Protection of IDPs. Pre-emptive actions also underpin the work of the organization in this regard, including engaging warring parties in conflicts to arrive at peaceful resolution to the conflicts. Early warning systems to mitigate the effects of climate change and related disasters are also being pursued as part of the new Humanitarian Agenda for the AU. The establishment of the African Humanitarian Agency will provide an added avenue for humanitarian action by the African Union as foundational in the African Humanitarian Architecture.

I thank you.