The Legal Protection of Development-Induced Displaced Persons in Africa

Abstract

Development-induced displacement has become one of the pressing human rights concern in Africa with thousands displaced by development projects across the continent each year. The political viewpoint that development projects are panaceas for economic development has often made their socio-economic implications for displaced persons’ pale in comparison. In a bid to address this form of displacement, the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons mandate states to prevent development-induced displacement. Seeking to mitigate the tension between the essence of the development project and respect for the rights of displaced persons, article 10 of the Convention mandate states to prevent development-induced displacement. This paper discusses the content of the obligation in fostering legal protection for development-induced displaced persons in Africa.