Finally, inclusive planning (involving local authorities and communities) tends to forestall hostilities, whereas isolation of displaced groups (segregated camps, denied rights) increases risks of conflict. 7. Gaps, Barriers, and Risks a) Political Barriers Some governments view refugees/IDPs through a security lens, limiting rights out of fear of insurgents or overburdening resources. Xenophobic or nationalist politics often scapegoat migrants, hindering protective policies. For instance, South African politicians have at times instrumentalized anti-immigrant rhetoric to win votes58, leading to violent xenophobic attacks (669 deaths of migrants since 1994).59 b) Legal and Policy Gaps Many states have not yet enacted essential laws. A majority of AU states are still not party to the statelessness Conventions.60 National asylum and IDP laws are absent in much of Africa, leaving gaps in eligibility criteria and rights. The Kampala Convention, though pioneering, has been ratified by only approximately 30 of 55 AU states, and few countries have aligned national law to it.61 c) Resource Constraints Humanitarian aid and development budgets are insufficient for the scale of need. Donor fatigue is a real risk. Many African host countries are themselves low-income, with limited fiscal space to support large displaced populations. Capacity shortages (lack of trained lawyers, judges, or land registrars) also delay legal reforms and claims processing. d) Securitization of Migration The trend to treat migration as a security threat reduces rights. Some governments, fearing infiltration by terrorists, have resisted hosting refugees or labeled migrants as "invaders." The Kenya "Dadaab hot pursuit" case illustrates this tension. Overemphasis on security leads to militarized borders and pushes displaced populations into informal (and unprotected) exile. e) Social Barriers and Xenophobia Host community resentment (over jobs or aid) can spiral into ethnic tension. The South Africa case is extreme, but localized xenophobia appears elsewhere. Stateless minorities live under discrimination. Lack of social cohesion programs makes cohabitation fraught.62 58 Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, "Xenophobia: A Pervasive Crisis in Post-Apartheid South Africa" (2022), https://gjia.georgetown.edu/human-rights-development/xenophobia-a-pervasive-crisis-inpost-apartheid-south-africa/. 59 Ibid (citing statistics on migrant deaths linked to xenophobic violence in South Africa since 1994). 60 Stateless Hub, "Africa Region Overview" (n 8). 61 African Union, "List of Countries Which Have Signed, Ratified/Acceded to the Kampala Convention" (AU, 2024), https://au.int/en/treaties/african-union-convention-protection-and-assistance-internally-displacedpersons-africa. 62 Georgetown Journal of International Affairs (n 58).