FROM NORMATIVE COMMITMENT TO IMPLEMENTATION FAILURE: GOVERNANCE CHALLENGES IN MANAGING INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT IN AFRICA.

Abstract

Despite sound normative frameworks in Africa, such as the African Union's Kampala Convention, internal displacement remains a persistent governance and human security challenge on the continent. Some African states are committed to protecting and assisting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs); however, a gap persists between normative adoption and effective implementation. This article examines governance dynamics that explain the transition from formal commitment to practical failure in managing internal displacement in Africa. Drawing on qualitative analysis of policy documents, regional instruments, and selected country cases, it examines institutional fragmentation, limited state capacity, weak intergovernmental coordination, and inadequate resource allocation. It further explores how sovereignty concerns and contested state legitimacy constrain collaboration with international actors, such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The findings suggest that implementation failure is not merely administrative but deeply embedded in political economy structures, patronage networks, and fragile accountability systems. The article argues that bridging the gap between normative commitment and administration requires strengthening domestic legal harmonization, enhancing institutional capacity, improving vertical and horizontal coordination mechanisms, and embedding accountability frameworks that prioritize durable solutions. This study contributes to African politics and humanitarian governance by offering policy-relevant insights to advance effective and sustainable IDP management across the continent.