interaction between international obligations and domestic legal systems therefore plays a significant role in determining the extent to which legal frameworks contribute to conflict prevention, social inclusion, and long-term peacebuilding. 2.2.1 International Instruments Africa's countries are party to core international instruments: the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (and its 1967 Protocol) sets baseline refugee rights (non-refoulement, legal status, etc.), including the expanded OAU refugee definition.16 The 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness and the 1954 Convention on Stateless Persons establish international standards to prevent and protect stateless persons. Although these statelessness treaties have far fewer African signatories than global treaties, African states have increasingly acceded in recent years.17 The UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (1998) — while non-binding — are widely referenced; they define IDPs and affirm rights such as protection and humanitarian assistance. Key international instruments are summarized in Table 1. The table includes both Regional and International Refugee Conventions (1969/2009 and 1951/1967 respectively), the 1954/1961 Statelessness Conventions, and the UN Guiding Principles on IDPs. All obligate signatories to respect basic rights and to collaborate but offer limited enforcement mechanisms. Table 1: Key Legal Instruments on Displacement and Statelessness Instrument Type 1951 Refugee Convention (with 1967 Protocol) 1969 OAU Convention on Refugees Date Scope / Notes Key Provisions AU State Parties Internationa 1951 (1967 l treaty Protocol) Global refugee definition; durable solutions. Refugee rights (nonrefoulement, legal residence, identity docs); refugee status criteria. Many African states are signatories; defines 'refugee' narrowly by persecution grounds. AU Regional treaty Specific to Africa. Expanded refugee definition: includes fleeing 'external aggression, occupation, foreign domination, or events seriously disturbing public All AU members; supersedes 1951 where more favourable. 1969 16 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (n 1); Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees (n 1); OAU Convention (n 2). 17 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness (n 1); Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons (n 1); UNHCR, Handbook on Protection of Stateless Persons (n 1) 1–3.