Kenya: Africa Insight - Africa Can't Run Away From Somalia
- By News Hound
- Published 06/28/2007
- Politics
- Unrated
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View all articles by News HoundKenya: Africa Insight - Page 3
The East African Community's common refugee registration mechanism, proposed in 2003 should be fast tracked. It may offer a useful framework for responding to Somali refugees by the expanded EAC member states-Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda.
On its part, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has all along pursued dialogue as the best way to stabilize Somalia. In October 2004, IGAD brokered the peace agreement that led to the formation of the TFG. While dialogue continues to be its best option as a tool for securing a durable solution to the Somali refugee crisis, IGAD must now step up its peace diplomacy.
However, proxy wars involving Ethiopia and Eritrea, and long-running tension between three IGAD's members - Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti-and pan-Somali nationalists undermine IGAD's efforts. Ethiopia is backing a military approach to the extremists while Eritrea supports them as part its proxy war against Ethiopia. Kenya maintains a cautious "neutrality."
Lack of resources and weak legal and institutional frameworks have also hindered IGAD's capacity to address insecurity relating to refugees.
The African Union (AU) has viable instruments of addressing the refugee crisis, particularly its 1969 (when it was OAU) Convention Guiding Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa.
Further, the AU has the 1999 Convention on Combating and Prevention of Terrorism. However, the AU must make clear the definition of terrorism to ensure that the agenda to protect refugees is not eclipsed by the discourse on counter-terrorism.
In this regard, the AU should urge the TFG to open dialogue with broad sections of society to calm growing tensions and prevent new destabilisation, especially by Islamists.
And, as things stand, Somali refugees stand to benefit from a series of international decisions and agendas aimed at seeking durable solutions to the refugee problem. These decisions include the Agenda for Protection (AP), the Convention Plus (CP), the Comprehensive Plan of Action for Somali Refugees (CPA), the UN Joint Needs Assessment and the Somali Reconstruction and Development Programme. More salutary was the formation of the Somali Contact Group in 2006, which has provided a diplomatic vehicle for promoting stability in Somalia.
From a realistic point of view, burden-sharing between Somalia's neighbours and wealthier Western powers is crucial to effective refugee protection and assistance.
Ultimately, the changing image of refugees in the age of terror is likely to continue to undermine protection, putting a heavy responsibility on refugee agencies and civil society to step up the agenda of refugee protection.
Patrick Mutahi is the Director of Eastern and Horn of Africa Programme at Africa Policy Institute (Nairobi)
http://allafrica.com/stories/200706280958.html
On its part, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has all along pursued dialogue as the best way to stabilize Somalia. In October 2004, IGAD brokered the peace agreement that led to the formation of the TFG. While dialogue continues to be its best option as a tool for securing a durable solution to the Somali refugee crisis, IGAD must now step up its peace diplomacy.
However, proxy wars involving Ethiopia and Eritrea, and long-running tension between three IGAD's members - Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti-and pan-Somali nationalists undermine IGAD's efforts. Ethiopia is backing a military approach to the extremists while Eritrea supports them as part its proxy war against Ethiopia. Kenya maintains a cautious "neutrality."
Lack of resources and weak legal and institutional frameworks have also hindered IGAD's capacity to address insecurity relating to refugees.
The African Union (AU) has viable instruments of addressing the refugee crisis, particularly its 1969 (when it was OAU) Convention Guiding Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa.
Further, the AU has the 1999 Convention on Combating and Prevention of Terrorism. However, the AU must make clear the definition of terrorism to ensure that the agenda to protect refugees is not eclipsed by the discourse on counter-terrorism.
In this regard, the AU should urge the TFG to open dialogue with broad sections of society to calm growing tensions and prevent new destabilisation, especially by Islamists.
And, as things stand, Somali refugees stand to benefit from a series of international decisions and agendas aimed at seeking durable solutions to the refugee problem. These decisions include the Agenda for Protection (AP), the Convention Plus (CP), the Comprehensive Plan of Action for Somali Refugees (CPA), the UN Joint Needs Assessment and the Somali Reconstruction and Development Programme. More salutary was the formation of the Somali Contact Group in 2006, which has provided a diplomatic vehicle for promoting stability in Somalia.
From a realistic point of view, burden-sharing between Somalia's neighbours and wealthier Western powers is crucial to effective refugee protection and assistance.
Ultimately, the changing image of refugees in the age of terror is likely to continue to undermine protection, putting a heavy responsibility on refugee agencies and civil society to step up the agenda of refugee protection.
Patrick Mutahi is the Director of Eastern and Horn of Africa Programme at Africa Policy Institute (Nairobi)
http://allafrica.com/stories/200706280958.html
