CM/Res.1390 (LVI)
RESOLUTION ON REFUGEES, RETURNEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS IN AFRICA
The Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity, meeting in its Fifty -sixth Ordinary Session in Dakar, Senegal, from 22 to 28 June 1992,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the situation of Refugees, Returnees and Displaced Persons in Africa, as well as the report of the OAU Commission of Fifteen on Refugees,
Noting with concern that despite efforts deployed so far, the situation of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa remains alarming,
Recalling Declaration AHG/Decl.1 (XXVI) of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the OAU on the Political and Socio-economic Situation in Africa and the Fundamental Changes Taking Place in the World, and in particular the relevant parts on peace and stability in the Continent,
Considering that the root causes of the problem of Refugees, Returnees and Displaced Persons in Africa are, inter-alia, conflicts, civil strife, drought and famine, natural disasters and calamities as well as adverse social and economic conditions affecting a number of Member States,
Convinced that eliminating the root causes and ensuring voluntary repatriation constitutes a lasting solution to the problem of refugees in Africa,
Noting with appreciation the sacrifices made by countries of asylum, despite their economic difficulties, to give asylum to refugees and displaced persons, as well as the efforts being deployed by some Member States with regard to voluntary repatriation and rehabilitation of refugees, returnees and displaced persons,
Noting with concern the conditions of insecurity and difficulties hampering delivery of relief assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in areas of conflict,
Noting with grave concern the most serious security problem, faced by the South African exiles who have been repatriated to South Africa,
Aware of the widening gap between the assessed needs of refugees and displaced persons, and the resources, material and logistic support made available to them by the international community,
Noting with appreciation the results of the Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Horn of Africa on Humanitarian Issues held in Addis Ababa, during 8 to 11 April 1992:
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TAKES NOTE of the Reports on the Situation of Refugees, Returnees and Displaced Persons in Africa presented by the Secretary-General and the Commission of Fifteen on Refugees;
EXPRESSES ITS GRATITUDE to the Member States which have been granting asylum and extending assistance to refugees and displaced persons in the spirit of African solidarity and cooperation as well as to Member States which have endeavored to promote voluntary return, resettlement and rehabilitation of refugees and displaced persons at the national and regional levels and APPEALS to other Member States concerned to promote conditions conducive to voluntary repatriation of refugees with the assistance of the OAU and the UNHCR;
CALLS UPON Member States to do all within their powers to achieve peaceful settlements of intra-State and inter-State conflicts, in conformity with the OAU Charter as well as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights;
EXPRESSES APPRECIATION to the OAU Secretary-General for the efforts deployed to promote the peaceful resolution and management of conflicts
in Africa, thus averting one of the major causes of asylum seeking;
COMMENDS the UNHCR and the International Donor Community for the Humanitarian assistance they have continued to give to refugees, returnees and displaced persons and URGES once more, the international community to provide additional resources to meet the growing needs of those persons;
APPEALS to the parties concerned to work for the creation of corridors of tranquility in zones of conflict in order to ensure the prompt and safe delivery of relief assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons and the safety of relief workers;
COMMENDS the countries of the Horn of Africa for the initiatives taken to deal, inter-alia with the problems of refugees, returnees and displaced persons as manifested in their Summit on Humanitarian Issues, and REQUESTS the international community to provide adequate assistance for the purpose of complementing the efforts of the Member States concerned;
CALLS the urgent attention of the international community on the humanitarian needs of refugees and national populations affected by the unprecedented drought and famine prevailing in the countries of Southern African Region and the Horn of Africa;
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REQUESTS the Secretary-General and the OAU Commission of Fifteen on Refugees to monitor the development in the Refugee Situation in the Continent, and in particular the serious security situation facing the South African returnees as well as the implementation of the “Khartoum Declaration” on Africa’s Refugee Crisis, and to periodically report to the Council of Ministers.