Management of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa: Comparing Nigeria and Cameroon

Abstract

According to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon (2014), Displacement remains arguably the most significant humanitarian challenge facing the world. Of the 33.3 million IDPs in the world, Sub-Saharan Africa hosts 15 million, with an increase of 7.5% between 2013 and 2014. As the number of IDPs continues to increase, attempts at management become more challenging for riddled countries. Notably, global efforts at managing displacement have concentrated more on refugees than IDPs, yet the latter equally constitute a challenge to global civilization. Underpinned by the human needs theory, this study comparatively interrogates the management of internal displacement in Africa with focus on Nigeria and neighbouring Cameroon. The study adopts the quantitative research design, employs survey method for data collection, and simple percentage as well as content analyses techniques for data analysis. With much focus on (dis)similarities in managerial stakeholders and their number, challenges, and degree of success recorded by both countries, it is summed that no one country is more successful than the other in IDPs management, rather both countries have a lot to learn from each other, and there is an urgent need to improve on the management of IDPs in both countries.

Key Words: Cameroon, Conflict, Displacement, Internally Displaced Persons,
Nigeria, Peace