Figure 1.--Nyarugusu in Tanzania is one of the largest refugee camps in the world. The camp in 2015 held nearly 70,000 refugees. Nearly two-thirds were children and youths between the ages 10-24 years of age. Almost all of were born in the camp or became a refugee at a very young age. Tanzania borders on three troubled countries Rawanda, Burundi, and Congo. The majority of the refugees are Burundians and Congolese.

With the departure of the European colonial powers, tribal conflicts began to emerge. The post-colonial independence era has led to incesent wars and tragic refugee flows throughout the continent. The resulting wars, mostly tribal conlicts and rebellions against oppresive leaders (often mixed) have created large numbers of refugees, in some cases huge numbers. Congo has been especially troubled. This was the first major African refugee crisis which began in 1960 actually continues to this day. The Cold War, White Apartheid, and Islamic extremism has fed into the violence. Genocide in Rawanda and Sudan (Darfur and South Sudan) were especially tragic. The situation was furthur complicatd by the Cold War as well as environmental conditions, espcially the desertification of the Sahel. Serious refugee crises as a result developed in many African countries. The countries involved did not have the administrarive and economic capabilities to deal with the problems and ideological beliefs in Socialism and Communism, despite the expectations of the new leaders and African people, adversely affected efforts at economic development that created problems and fed into unrest and refuge problems. A new problem hs develped with the turn-of-the 21st century. Africans fleeing the poverty and chaos in many countries have joined the Middle Eastern flow into Europe in recent years. This often is very dangerous given the geography and terraine as well as the fact that many are Christians traveling through Muslim countries.

Burundi

Burundi is one of the poorest countries on earth. Large numbers of Burundis fleed the country (1995-96) and never returned. A failed coup attempt (May 2018) resulted in another wave of civilians fleeing the country. Foreign election supporters have withdrawn their contributions. The situation in Burundi is deteriorating. A cholera outbreak declared on May 17 in the refugee camps over the border in Tanzania has heightened the humanitarian crisis and added pressure to already weak health services. Violence in Burundi has caused another wave of refugees heading to neighbouring Rwanda, the Congo, and Tanzania (2018). The United Nations' refugee agency (UNHCR) over half have headed toward Tanzania with large numbers seeking refuge in Rwanda and Congo. Some 70,000 have already arrived at Kagunga beach, on the border between Burundi and Tanzania. They are being taken to Nyarugusu camp. The Camp has overflowed into schools and churches, providing additional temporary shelter.

(Democratic Reopublic of the) Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) has a tragic history of conflict. Violence began as the Belgiand began to withdraw (1960). It became a struggle for valuable natiuional resources, comlicated by the Cold War. The most recent tragedy is associated with the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. In response to the Hutu perpretators of genocide ahanst the Tutsis in Rawada, The Tutsis from Uganda seized cintrol from the Hutus maby of whom flked into the Congo and launched periodic attacks. Rwandan and Ugandan forces invaded the Congo to flush out the Hutu militias operating there (1996). As a result if the First Congo War, long term striong man, Mobutu Sese Seko was overthrown and replaced by Laurent-Desire Kabila. Kabila accused Rwanda of exploiting the Congo's minerals (1998). Aided by Angola, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, they drove Rwandan and Ugandan forces out of the country. The Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement of (1999) attempted to end hostilities. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) established the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) (1999). Its mission was to implementing the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement. Despite its efforts, the violence continued. This resulted in the Second Congo War. Finally a peace accords was signed between Uganda and Congo (2003). Even so, a proxy war between Rwanda and Uganda continued abd only ended (2008). With UN electoral assistance provided under the auspices of MONUC, the late President Kabila’s son, Joseph Kabila, became the first democratically-elected president of the Congo (2006). This democratic transition has not violence and coinflict continues. It is believed tht some perpetually conflict-ridden DRC, where it is estimated that more than 6 million people have been killed from war-related causes. That is just the killing. Terrible human rights abuses hve also been reported, including systematic rape. The confllict has created a horrific humanitarian crisis in the easrern Xongo and neigbiring regions. The forces involve include the Forces armees de la Republique democratique du Congo (Armed Forces of the DRC--FARDC) and various rebel factions which in most cases are basically armed gangs. They inckude the Forces democratiques de liberation du Rwanda (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda--FDLR), Maï-Maï Sheka, M23, Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), and Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). This endemic violence, coupled with the struggle for control of the Congo's natural resources, continues to further destabilize an already-fragmented nation.

Ethiopia

Ethiopia is one of the Africa countries that has exprienced one of the greatest refugee crisis. This has included domestic refugees, Ethiopians seeking refuge in neigboring countries and refugees fro neigboring ciynbtries seeking refuge in Ethiopia. A range of causes are responsible including drought and famine, war with Somalia, the Cold War and a brutal Communist dictaiorship. Most recently religious issues have been involved, primarily Islamist violence. A drought began (1969). It continued as persustent dry weather. The Sahel was devestated and it moved east into the Horn of Africa. A killer famine developed threatened the lives of hundreds of thousands of Ethiopian nomads (1973). Many fled their long time home range and sought food in Somalia, Djibouti, Kenya, and Sudan. Some 300,000 peasants of Tigray and Welo provinces sought relief witin Ethiopia. Refugees have moved within the country. Large numbers of foreigners in recent years from Somalia and Eritra have fled to Ethiopia. Ethiopia is hosting an estimated 250,000 people from Somalia, a country battling a 10-year long insurgency by al-Shabaab Islamic terrorists, who pledged alliance with al-Qaeda in 2012. They have been urged by the Islamic Caliphate State (Isis/Daesh) to join their jihad struggle. Ethiopia is also the starting point for Eritrean refugees who want to move north toward the Mediterranean and cross over to Europe. After Syrians, Eritreans are among the largest groups of people who embark on the perilous journeys to Europe. Most recently refugees from the fighting in South Sudan have been flowing into Ethiopia. Millions have been displaced since a civil war erupted (2013). Ethiopia has one of the fastest growing economies in the entire continent. It currently provides care fior some 750,000, making it the world's fifth largest refugee hosting country.

Rawanda

Rawanda began to spin out of control with the Hutu genocide launched at the Tutsis (1994). Over two million Rwandans have fled to neighboring countries of the Great Lakes region of Africa in the aftermath of the Rwandan Genocide.

South Sudan

South Sudan is Africa's newest nation. he bright hope of independence descended into , descended into a brutal civil war (2013). President Salva Kiir, a Dinka, fired his deputy, and rebel leader, Riek Machar, a Nuer, and his cabinet. Ethnic-related violence spread. An estimated 50,000 people have been killed. Hundreds of thousands are either facing starvation in the country or have fled. Charges of crimes against humanity have been leveled at both sides, including rape, torture, and the kidnapping of children fir use as child soldiers.

Tanzania

Tanzania is one of the more stable African countries. The coutry, however, borders on three troubled countries Rawanda, Burundi, and Congo. Here we see a scene from the Nyarugusu in the western province of Kigoma, in Tanzania (figure 1). It lies about 150 km from Lake Tanganyika. It is one of the largest refugee camps in the world. The camp in 2015 held nearly 70,000 refugees, down from the 150,000 refugees people in the late 1990s when the camp was established. Nearly two-thirds were children and youths between the ages 10-24 years of age. Almost all of were born in the camp or became a refugee at a very young age. Tanzania borders on three troubled countries Rawanda, Burundi, and Congo. The majority of the refugees are Burundians and Congolese.

Created: 10:03 AM 8/21/2018
Last updated: 10:03 AM 8/21/2018