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Internally Displaced Persons: Abuja Peace Agreement

Implementations

Internally Displaced Persons – 1998

The July 1998 ceasefire agreement, which was reaffirmed in the final accord in November of the same year, provided that the parties to the accord facilitate the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs). However, it did not provide a list of any steps that should be taken to achieve this goal. The ceasefire that was signed in July did not hold, furthering security concern for IDPs. Indeed, heavy fighting broke out in October¹ and created massive displacement. Following the heavy fighting, the United Nations issued an appeal for $28.6 million to meet the urgent needs of some 385,000 IDPs.²

“Heavy Fighting Breaks out in Guinea-Bissau,” Xinhua News Agency, October 19, 1998.
“Guinea-Bissau; UN Issues Appeal For Guinea-Bissau,” Africa News, December 15, 1998.

Internally Displaced Persons – 1999

Internal displacement remained very high as parties repeatedly violated the ceasefire. After the ousting of President Joao Bernardo Vieira in July, the situation gradually improved. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that an estimated 215,000 IDPs returned to their homes.¹

“2003 UNHCR Statistical Yearbook – Guinea-Bissau,” UNHCR, accessed 2005, http://www.unhcr.org/41d2c172c.html.

Internally Displaced Persons – 2000

It was reported that the humanitarian situation in Guinea-Bissau had improved significantly and an estimated 215,000 IDPS had returned to their homes. Also, there were no reports related to IDPs in 2000, suggesting significant achievement in the resettlement of IDPs.¹

“Report of the Secretary-General on developments in Guinea-Bissau,” U.N. Security Council (S/2000/250), accessed March 24, 2000.

Internally Displaced Persons – 2001

IDPs who fled their homes during the conflict were resettled back to their homes and communities in 1999 and 2000. The UNHCR and the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau did not report any remaining issues relating to the resettlement of IDPs.