How can we understand the plight of refugees in Africa? Why are refugees now spending an average of 17 years in exile? Why have African states required refugees to remain in isolated and insecure camps? Is there a better approach to the needs of refugees in Africa?

This book answers these questions by examining the history and politics of asylum in Africa and the response of key African states to the mass arrival and prolonged presence of refugees. By situating the question of refugees within the broader context of African politics, the book outlines the broad range of factors that influence the asylum policies of African states. Building from these lessons, the book outlines the politics of asylum in Africa and proposes a new approach to addressing the needs of the continent's refugees.

This approach leads to important lessons not only for the study of asylum in Africa, but also for the future of refugee protection in Africa.

Understanding the State and Asylum in Africa
A History of Asylum in Africa
The Principle and Practice of 'Burden Sharing' in Africa
Host State Security and Refugee Movements in Africa
Kenya
Tanzania
Guinea
The Politics of Asylum in Africa

JAMES MILNER is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Carleton University, Canada. He is co-author of UNHCR: The Politics and Practice of Refugee Protection into the Twenty-First Century and co-editor of Protracted Refugee Situations: Political, Human Rights and Security Implications. He has worked with the UN's refugee agency in the field and its Geneva headquarters.