Adopted by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) at its 1216th meeting, held at the Ministerial level, on 19 June 2024, on Refugees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Humanitarian Assistance in Africa.

The Peace and Security Council,

Recalling its previous decisions and pronouncements on Humanitarian Action in Africa, particularly, Declaration [Ext/Assembly/AU/Decl.(XV)] adopted by the 15th Extraordinary African Union Humanitarian Summit and Pledging Conference, held on 27 May 2022, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea;

Also, recalling Communique [PSC/PR/COMM.1081(2023)], adopted at its 1081st meeting held on 4 May 2022; Press Statement [PSC/PR/BR.1155(2023)] adopted at its 1155th meeting held on 18 May 2023; and Communique [PSC/PR/COMM.1176 (2023)] adopted at its 1176th meeting held on 29 September 2023;

Marking the 20th Anniversary of the Peace and Security Council since its establishment in 2004 and the World Refugee Day, while reaffirming its commitment in line with Article 6(f), Article 7(p), and Article 15 of the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, which empowers the Council to engage in humanitarian action and disaster management and facilitate humanitarian action in situations of armed conflicts or natural disasters in Africa;

Expressing the AU's solidarity with all refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Continent, including, victims of natural disasters, while reaffirming its unwavering commitment to redouble efforts towards mobilizing humanitarian aid, in order to alleviate their suffering.;

Taking note of the opening statement by Honourable General Odongo Jeje Abubakher, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda and Chairperson of the PSC for June 2024; the introductory remarks by H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; the presentation by Professor Julio Rakotonirina, the AU Director for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, on behalf of the Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, H.E. Ambassador Minata Samate Cessouma; as well as the statements by Mr. Carl Skau, Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, World Food Programme; by Dr. Buti Kale, United Nations High Commission for Refugees Representative to the African Union and by Mr. Peter Ekayu from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).

Acting under Article 7 of its Protocol, the Peace and Security Council:

1. Expresses deep concern over the worsening humanitarian situation across parts of the Continent, particularly, in the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin area, and in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and northern Mozambique, resulting from a combination of both natural and man-made factors, such as violent conflicts, terrorism and violent extremism, inter-communal violence, unconstitutional changes of government, and the growing impact of climate change-related phenomena, namely, floods, cyclones, droughts and desert encroachment;

2. Notes with deep concern the dwindling resources for swift and effective responses to humanitarian crises in Africa; in this regard, requests the AU Commission, in consultation with the UN humanitarian Agencies and other key partners, to undertake a comprehensive study, identifying the financial shortfalls and make concrete and practicable proposals on how to address the financial challenges for meeting Africa’s humanitarian needs;

3. Emphasizes the need for Member States to comprehensively address the structural root causes and drivers of violent conflicts in Africa, and work in every way possible for the peaceful settlement of disputes, in line with the AU Master Roadmap of Practical Steps to Silence the Guns in Africa, and to redouble efforts in building national resilience against the negative effects of climate change, as well as enhance investment in disaster risk reduction;

4. Directs the AU Commission, and request Partners to continue to provide technical assistance to Member States in addressing the causes and drivers of violent conflicts and to contribute to initiatives geared towards curbing the proliferation of Small Arms and Lights Weapons on the Continent and to further strengthen local, regional, and continental capacities for swift responses to humanitarian crises and enhanced resilience, including in the context of early warning and early responses, as well as promoting peace, security, and sustainable development.

5. Demands all parties involved in violent conflicts in Africa to scrupulously adhere to International Humanitarian Law, International Human Rights Law (IHL/IHRL), and all other international instruments on the protection of civilians and to facilitate humanitarian access to the population in need as well as ensure the safety and security of humanitarian workers and aid agencies;

6. Commends all Member States hosting large numbers of refugees for their pan-African spirit of solidarity as well as countries and communities hosting large number of internally displaced persons and appeals to international partners to support their humanitarian efforts in the spirit of burden and responsibility sharing to enable host countries and communities to more effectively respond to their humanitarian and development needs; and within the same context, urges AU Member States to keep their borders open for refugees and to assist asylum seekers in accordance with the provisions of international law and AU legal frameworks;

7. Applauds the AU Member States, the AU Commission and development partners for their efforts to address the humanitarian issues facing the Continent, in line with Declaration [Ext/Assembly/AU/Decl.(XV)] adopted by the 15th Extraordinary African Union Humanitarian Summit and Pledging Conference, held on 27 May 2022 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea; encourages them to generously contribute to the AU Special Emergencies Fund and appeals to all Member States and development partners to expeditiously honour their pledges;

8. Acknowledges the leadership of the AU Commission on humanitarian concerns, especially in implementing the post-Malabo 10-year Plan of Action, and requests the AU Commission to lead efforts for an all-Africa mega pledge modeled after the post-Malabo 10-year Plan of Action in the following areas: Addressing Humanitarian challenges in Africa; Climate Change, Disasters, and Forced Displacement in Africa; Food Security and Nutrition in Humanitarian Situations in Africa; Health Challenges in Humanitarian Space in Africa; PostConflict Reconstruction and Development for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons in Africa; and Resource Mobilization and Financing for Humanitarian Action in Africa;

9. Underscores that the Malabo Ten-Year Plan of Action and the African Union Humanitarian Agency offer a framework for collaborative engagements in implementing AU Commission-led solutions to African humanitarian challenges; and, in this regard, requests the AU Commission to expedite the full operationalization of the African Union Humanitarian Agency (AHA) and to mobilize resources that will enable the Agency to more effectively deliver on its mandate;

10. Takes note of the Second Global Refugee Forum (GRF) held from 13 to 15 December 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland, where refugee-hosting AU Member States made concrete policy pledges requiring urgent financial and development matching and support; and to this end, calls upon all the Partners that made pledges during the GRF to implement them in a timely manner;

11. Appreciates the support of AU partners and the international community and emphasizes that in order to effectively address humanitarian issues in Africa, the AU must fortify its alliances with development organizations, international financial institutions, and other UN mechanisms; and in this regard, calls for better financing of humanitarian programmes in Africa particularly to countries experiencing severe humanitarian challenges as well as to countries hosting large numbers of refugees and internally displaced persons for protracted periods in Africa;

12. Calls on AU Member States and the broader international community to redouble humanitarian support for affected populations in Africa, particularly women and children; also stresses the need for adaptation programmes for returnees and the integration of psychosocial support for refugees and IDPs in humanitarian response;

13. Reiterates its request to the AUC to develop systems for the collection, analysis and management of data and statistics related to refugees and internally displaced persons for their registration in order to improve decision-making processes in relation to their conditions and the overall effectiveness of humanitarian actions in Africa;

14. Underlines the need for further strengthening of national, regional, and Continental early warning capacities and early response mechanisms, as well as the need for integrated and inclusive approaches that involve the affected communities, civil society organizations, and the private sector, as well as timely provision of humanitarian assistance to those in need;

15. Underscored the importance of enhancing collaboration among all humanitarian actors, including with the African Risk Capacity (ARC) Agency, a Specialized Agency of the African Union established to support Member States in improving their capacities to better plan, prepare for, and respond to extreme weather events, natural disasters, and other disasters;

16. Welcomes the adoption of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on Specific Aspects of the Right to Nationality and the Eradication of Statelessness in Africa, by the African Union at the 44th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council and its 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Governments and commits to supporting efforts aimed at accelerating the ratification and entry into force of the Protocol;

17. Encourages Member States that have not yet signed or ratified the 1969 Organization of African Unity (OAU) Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugees in Africa and the 2009 Convention on the Protection and Assistance to Internally Displaced Persons (Kampala Convention), to consider doing so at their earliest convenience; and

18. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

COMMENTS