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Mig01b


The shrinking space of refugee protection? Asylum in Africa II 
Convenors:
Franzisca Zanker (Arnold-Bergstraesser Institute)
Kalyango Sebba (Makerere University)
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Discussant:
Khangelani Moyo (University of the Free State, South Africa)
Format:
Panel
Stream:
Flight and migration
Location:
Room 1231
Sessions:
Thursday 9 June, -
Time zone: Europe/Berlin

Short Abstract:

This panel focuses on the political dimensions of refugee protection in Africa and the ways in which asylum has been instrumentalized and continues to change. It looks at events and processes that have lead to a shrinking space for refugee protection.

Long Abstract:

With the Refugee Convention from the Organisation of African Unity from 1969, the African continent offers some of the strongest protections for refugees in the world. The top-ten refugee-hosting countries in the world include Ethiopia, Sudan and Uganda. In 2019, the African Union marked the Year of the Refugee and Displaced Person. Yet much research focuses either on migration towards the Global North or externalisation policies on the borders to Europe without connecting to political debates on the African continent. This panel focuses on the political dimensions of refugee protection and the ways in which asylum has been instrumentalized and continues to change. The panel seeks interdisciplinary contributions that discuss issues that potentially lead to a shrinking space for refugee protection - for example, anti-refugee xenophobic discourses in the media, the role of refugee protection in elections, or how legal categories of refugees and other migrants are being repurposed for specific political aims. Moreover, where have external interests led to a shrinking space for refugee protection, such as through the Emergency Transit Mechanism. How have the historically low resettlement figures affected major host countries? How has the COVID 19 pandemic strengthened and reiterated previous protection ideals and failures? Finally, in what ways are Regional Economic Communities responding to refugee protection and where are they failing? We are also interested in research that challenges the shrinking space and shows the political relevance of Pan-African solidarity or other ways refugees have been accepted and welcomed, even if this contrasts with official policies.

Accepted papers:

Session 1 Thursday 9 June, 2022, -