CM/Res.1521 (LX)
RESOLUTION ON REFUGEES, RETURNEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS IN AFRICA
The Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity meeting in its Sixtieth Ordinary Session in Tunis, Tunisia, from 6 to 11 June, 1994,
Having considered the report by the OAU Commission of Fifteen on Refugees on the situation of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa contained in Document CM/1833 (LX),
Recalling its previous resolutions on refugees and in particular its Resolutions CM/Res.1448 (LVII) and CM/Res.1489 (LIX) which spell out the main root causes of the problem of refugees and displaced persons in Africa,
Recalling further the fact that refugee influxes and displacement of people have continued to occur in various parts of the continent and to place extra burden on countries of asylum,
Noting with satisfaction the necessary measures taken by both the General Secretariat and the OAU Commission of Fifteen on Refugees, in particular the fact-finding missions undertaken to fourteen OAU Member States by the Commission in conformity with the directives given during its Fifty-ninth Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa, from 31 January to 4 February 1994,
Noting with deep gratitude the readiness and willingness with which OAU Member States have always received refugees and displaced persons in spite of the economic difficulties facing most African States,
Deeply saddened by the recent tragic events in Rwanda which, among other traumatic consequences, have created a refugee emergency of dramatic and unprecedented proportions,
Concerned that several other conflicts political crisis and strife throughout the continent continue to produce monumental suffering including the internal and external displacement of populations,
Noting with grave concern the escalating situation of the problem of refugees and displaced persons in Africa which to OAU Commission of Fifteen on Refugees is called upon to play in sensitizing the international community,
Recognizing the continued efforts of the UNHCR, the ICRC, governmental and non-governmental organizations in providing assistance to African refugees and displaced persons together with other needy populations, including wounded and sick persons during armed conflicts,
Noting that this year OAU commemorates the 25th Anniversary of the adoption of the 1969 OAU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee problems in Africa and its 20th Anniversary of the coming into force:
TAKES NOTE of the report presented by the OAU Commission of Fifteen on the situation of Refugees and Displaced Persons;
PAYS TRIBUTE TO the countries of asylum for the assistance they extend to the refugees and the displaced persons, in spite of the severe economic constraints they are facing;
URGES Member States to continue addressing the root causes of the problem of refugees and displaced persons and create the necessary conducive atmosphere in order to reduce the incidence of asylum-seeking in the continent and to encourage voluntary repatriation of refugees to their countries of origin, once the conditions that caused their exile have disappeared;
COMMENDS Member States which have ratified the 1951 UN Convention and its 1967 Protocol, the 1969 OAU Convention governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa as well as the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights and URGES once more those Member states that have not done so to ratify these legal instruments pertaining to the refugee situation;
CALLS UPON Member States to translate into action their collective and individual commitment to the defence and protection of human and people’s rights and to the peaceful settlement of internal and inter-state conflicts;
TAKES NOTE of the report on the progress made so far by the OAU General Secretariat and the Unite Nations High Commission for Refugees in jointly organizing a symposium to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the entry into force and the 25th Anniversary of the adoption of the 1969 OAU Convention governing the specific Aspects of the Refugee Problems I Africa and URGES the Member States to provide all necessary support to make the symposium a success, including in particular, representatives at the highest possible level and taking an active part in the deliberations of the symposium scheduled to take place from 5 – 7 September, 1994,
FURTHER URGES Member States to undertake other activities to commemorate the above-mentioned anniversaries including organizing fund-raising functions during 1994 through sports, issuing of stamps, concerts and other activities in favour of refugees and displaced persons;
EXPRESS ITS GRATITUDE to the international community for the humanitarian assistance it has continued to render to refugees and displaced persons as well as to the countries of asylum and CALLS ON it to continue to provide assistance to the millions of refugees and displaced persons in Africa;
REQUESTS the Commission of Fifteen on refugees to evolve a practical work programme that, among other things, emphasizes the mobilization of financial and material assistance to refugees and displaced persons;
DECIDES to expand the composition of the membership of the OAU Commission of Fifteen on Refugees from 15 to 20 composed of the following countries:
Algeria, Angola, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Gabon, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Mozambique, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Zaire, Zambia and Zimbabwe.