Durable Solutions for Internally Displaced Persons in Sudan and Somalia

This paper analyses how durable solutions for IDPs are implemented in Sudan and Somalia from the perspective of security, Housing Land and Property rights, as well as policies and coordination structures. It further explores the challenges and different options for durable solutions in both countries.

Published on November 25, 2021

Samundra Acharya | genida, IDPs, Conflict, Violence, Solutions, Africa

Sudan. Displaced Sudanese Prepare for Return to West Darfur. 7 December, 2010 © UN/Albert Gonzalez Farran

Sudan and Somalia have come a long way in managing the crisis of internal displacement that affects each of the two countries. This study therefore examines how are durable solutions operationalized in Sudan and Somalia from the perspective of security, Housing Land and Property (HLP) rights, policies and coordination structures, as well as the translation of these policies into projects. The study finds that IDPs in these countries show some similarity in attaining durable solutions, notably that IDPs prefer to remain in urban locations despite improved security situations in rural areas of the countries. Both countries have distinct vulnerabilities for HLP-related matters. In Sudan, especially in Darfur, HLP issues are dealt with through the customary tenure that does not guarantee the full protection to concerned parties, whereas in Somalia forced eviction is a major issue for HLP-related matters. Furthermore, the study finds that Somalia has rolled out relevant policies and rules for IDPs and durable solutions, establishing coordination systems that run across all relevant ministries and humanitarian counterparts. As a result, numerous projects and activities are implemented in Somalia along with the development of learning and accountability framework.

Samundra Acharya is a humanitarian worker with a keen interest in forced displacement, durable solutions and protection aspects of displacement affected populations. She holds a MA in Refugee Protection and Forced Migration Studies from the University of London. She has worked with international organisations in places such as Nepal, South Sudan, Somalia, Kenya and Bangladesh.

This paper was written by the author during her Summer Fellowship on Internal Displacement at the Internal Displacement Research Programme at the Refugee Law Initiative. The Fellowship was supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, on behalf of the UKRI Global Challenge Research Fund, as part of the funded project “Interdisciplinary Network on Internal Displacement, Conflict and Protection” (AH/T005351/1).

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