No Refuge
The Crisis of Refugee Militarization in Africa
Published on 15. July 2006
Book
Paperback/Softback
280 pages
978-1-84277-789-3 (ISBN)
Description
'Africa's refugee and IDP camps are a cause of major concern to the international community. Millions of men, women and children endure situations of protracted displacement in deplorable conditions. In the absence of more durable solutions, refugees and IDPs in many situations are exceptionally susceptible to militarization. No Refuge describes how the phenomenon of refugee militarization threatens to undermine asylum and protection. This edited volume is a timely and invaluable resource for governments, UNHCR protection officers, UN agencies, and NGOs. It is a must-read for all concerned with improving the safety and rights of refugees and IDPs on the ground.'
Antonio Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
'No Refuge provides a timely analysis by a group of Africa experts of the causes and consequences of refugee militarization in Africa. It should prove invaluable for practitioners, policy-makers and academics in their quest to find practical and effective remedies for this growing humanitarian and security problem. I highly recommend it.'
Professor Gil Loescher, Centre for International Studies, University of Oxford
The militarization of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) is a persistent and tragic feature of protracted displacement situations, especially in Africa. The phenomenon threatens access to asylum and protection-core pillars of refugee law and the mandates of aid agencies. But while policy debates rage over how best to disarm refugees and prevent them from destabilizing neighbouring states, there is surprisingly little evidence explaining why displaced people arm themselves or precisely how militarization affects hosting communities. No Refuge analyses the experience of refugee and IDP militarization in several African countries affected by and emerging from civil war, including Guinea, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania. It provides a considered overview of the historical, political and regional dimensions of refugee and IDP militarization in Africa, as well as international and national efforts to contain it.
Antonio Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
'No Refuge provides a timely analysis by a group of Africa experts of the causes and consequences of refugee militarization in Africa. It should prove invaluable for practitioners, policy-makers and academics in their quest to find practical and effective remedies for this growing humanitarian and security problem. I highly recommend it.'
Professor Gil Loescher, Centre for International Studies, University of Oxford
The militarization of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) is a persistent and tragic feature of protracted displacement situations, especially in Africa. The phenomenon threatens access to asylum and protection-core pillars of refugee law and the mandates of aid agencies. But while policy debates rage over how best to disarm refugees and prevent them from destabilizing neighbouring states, there is surprisingly little evidence explaining why displaced people arm themselves or precisely how militarization affects hosting communities. No Refuge analyses the experience of refugee and IDP militarization in several African countries affected by and emerging from civil war, including Guinea, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania. It provides a considered overview of the historical, political and regional dimensions of refugee and IDP militarization in Africa, as well as international and national efforts to contain it.
Reviews / Votes
'Africa's refugee and IDP camps are a cause of major concern to the international community. Millions of men, women, and children endure situations of protracted displacement in deplorable conditions. In the absence of more durable solutions, refugees and IDPs in many situations are exceptionally susceptible to militarization. No Refuge describes how the phenomenon of refugee militarization threatens to undermine asylum and protection. This edited volume is a timely and invaluable resource for governments, UNHCR protection officers, UN agencies, and NGOs. It is a must-read for all concerned with improving the safety and rights of refugees and IDPs on the ground.' Antonio Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees'No Refuge provides a timely analysis by a group of Africa experts of the causes and consequences of refugee militarization in Africa. It should prove invaluable for practitioners, policy-makers, and academics in their quest to find practical and effective remedies for this growing humanitarian and security problem. I highly recommend it.'
Professor Gil Loescher, Centre for International Studies, University of Oxford
'Able and excellent treatment of a web of contemporary refugee militarization and security issues ... a resourceful read for donors, practitioners, policy-makers and academics concerned with strengthening and ameliorating refugee protection'
African Security Review
'No Refuge provides a valuable contribution to the growing literature on the dynamics of forced migration and small arms proliferation.'
Mark Naftalin, Journal of Peace Research
'A well-coordinated collection'
'No Refuge is a valuable contribution to the literature about refugee camp administration and politics in the context of Africa's wars...This book is a good reminder that, focused as they are on the mundane day-to-day tasks, workers organizing refugee communities on the ground sometimes forget that the context of regional political interests makes refugees particularly vulnerable to political manipulation by forces both within and outside refugee communities.'
Tony Waters, African Studies Review
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
Index, Bibliography, Notes
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
401 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84277-789-3 (9781842777893)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Person
Robert Muggah is the Global Security and Cooperation Professional Fellow (SSRC), Refugee Studies Centre, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford.
Content
Acknowledgements
Preface - Kamel Morjane
Abbreviations
1. Arms availability and refugee militirization in Africa - conceptualising the issues - Robert Muggah and Edward Mogire
2. The militirization and demilitirization of refugee camps and settlements in Guinea, 1999 - 2004 - James Milner with Astrid Christoffersen-deb
3. Protection failures: Outward and inward militirization of refugee camps and settlements and IDP camps in Uganda - Robert Muggah
4. Preventing or abetting: refugee militirization in Tanzania - Edward Mogire
5. The wheel turns again: militirization and Rwanda's Congolese refugees - Gregory Mthembu-Salter
6. From bad to better: reflections on refugee and IDP militirization in Africa - Sue J. Nahm
About the contributors
Index
Preface - Kamel Morjane
Abbreviations
1. Arms availability and refugee militirization in Africa - conceptualising the issues - Robert Muggah and Edward Mogire
2. The militirization and demilitirization of refugee camps and settlements in Guinea, 1999 - 2004 - James Milner with Astrid Christoffersen-deb
3. Protection failures: Outward and inward militirization of refugee camps and settlements and IDP camps in Uganda - Robert Muggah
4. Preventing or abetting: refugee militirization in Tanzania - Edward Mogire
5. The wheel turns again: militirization and Rwanda's Congolese refugees - Gregory Mthembu-Salter
6. From bad to better: reflections on refugee and IDP militirization in Africa - Sue J. Nahm
About the contributors
Index