Abstract
This contribution analyzes the role of refugee hosting countries on conflict resolution efforts in countries of origin. Using the international relations theory of hegemony, we argue that refugee hosting presents different opportunities and challenges to host states in furthering national interest. The act of hosting and bringing regional leaders together in their countries confers recognition and legitimacy to the host states role in conflict resolution. The international community involvement through UN agencies and other international nongovernmental organizations creates the need for enhanced security and increases accessibility to refugee hosting areas as well as the involvement of international media. This helps elevate the role of host countries in regional politics and permits them to negotiate resources and logistics for refugee hosting with international communities, humanitarian organizations, and neighboring countries. In conflict resolution, leadership plays a crucial role. Refugees in protracted situations and some of their leaders may save and invest heavily in their host countries. Such investments may contribute to conflict resolutions or prolong conflicts. How host governments regulate and facilitate migrant investment impacts peace settlements. In addition refugee and asylum seekers develop lasting ties with their hosts all the way from ordinary members of the community to national leadership of host countries. These personal relationships create obligations and deference. The host nations and their nationals come to learn the possible economic opportunities in the countries of origin which they aggressively pursue. For example, Kenyan and Ugandan business people were the first to initiate trade and commerce in South Sudan. Finally regional hubs such as Nairobi, Addis Ababa, and Kampala assume great prominence in regional diplomacy and efforts that have a bearing on conflict resolution.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsNotes
- 1.
Kenya recently withdrew her troops from South Sudan in a widely publicized disagreement with the UN.
References
Al-Ali, N., Black, R., & Koser, K. (2001). The limits to “transnationalism” bosnian and eretrean refugees in Europe as emerging transnational communties. Journal of Ethnic Studies, 24(4), 578–600.
Chimni, B. S. (2002). Refugees, return and reconstruction of ‘post-conflict’ societies: A critical perspective. International Peacekeeping, 9(2), 163–180.
Civins, B. (2010). Ethiopia’s intervention in Somalia 2006-2009. Paper, Essays and Reviews 2(2), 137–154. Accessed February 16, 2017, from http://theyonseijournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/ethiopia.pdf
Clements, K. (2016, April). Humanitarian diplomacy. American Foreign Service Journal. http://www.afsa.org/humanitarian-diplomacy.
CMH. (2006). The United States Army in Somalia 1992-1994. The United States Army Centre for Military History. Accessed September 7, 2017, from http://history.army.mil
Ginnetti, J., & Franck, T. (2014). Assessing drought displacement risk for Kenyan, Ethiopian and Somali pastoralists. Technical Paper. Geneva: Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC).
Healy, S. (2011). Seeking peace and security in the Horn of Africa; the contribution of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development. International Affairs, 87(1), 105–120.
Hyndman, J. (2000). Managing displacement: Refugees and the politics of humanitarianism. Minneapolis, MN: University of Mennisota Press.
International Peace Institute. (2011). Refugees and the regional dynamics of peace building. Accessed May 20, 2017, from https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Full_Report_199.pdf
Kellerman, M. G. (2011). Somali piracy: Causes and consequences. Inquiries Journal/Student Pulse, 3(9). Accessed May 30, 2018, from http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/a?id=579
Kidane, M. (2011). Critical factors in the Horn of Africa’s Raging Conflicts. Milton Keynes: Lightning Source UK.
Kolmannskog, V., & Tamer, A. (2014). Disaster-related displacement from the Horn of Africa report no. 15. Bonn: United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS).
Mengistu, M. M. (2015). The root causes of conflicts in the Horn of Africa. American Journal of Applied Psychology, 4(2), 28–34.
Mesfin, B. (2012). Ethiopia’s role and foreign policy in the Horn of Africa. International Journal of Ethiopian Studies, 6(1/2), 87–113.
Milner, J. (2011). Refugees and the peace building process. New Issues in Refugee Research. Research Paper No. 224. Geneva: The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
Mkutu, K. (2001). Pastoralism and conflict in the Horn of Africa. Research Report. Nairobi: Africa Peace Forum.
Nye, J. (2007). The place of soft power in state-based conflict management. In C. A. Chester, F. O. Hampson, & P. Aall (Eds.), Leashing the dogs of war: Conflict management in a divided world. Washington: United State Instiute of Peace Press.
Nyuotyoh, J. G. (2003). Djibouti: Peace processes and conflict resolution in the Horn of Africa African Security Review 12(3). Accessed June 03, 2017, from http://reliefweb.int/report/djibouti/peace-processes-and-conflict-resolution-horn-africa
Poole, W. S. (2005). The effort to save Somalia, August 1992-March 1994. Washington, DC: Joint History Office. Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff http://www.jcs.mil/Portals/36/Documents/History/Monographs/Somalia.pdf 14/4/2017.
Raffaelli, M. (2007). The EU in Somalia: Furthering peacemaking and reconciliation. The International Spectator, 42(1), 121–127.
Regional Mixed Migration Secretariat (RMMS). (2013). Migrant smuggling in the Horn of Africa & Yemen: The social economy and protection risks. In Mixed migration research series 1: Explaining people on the move. Nairobi: Regional Mixed Migration Secretariat.
Rempel, T. (2012). A right to take part? Refugee participation in the negotiations of durable solutions. Paper presented doing a conference on Palestinian Refugees in the Arab World 14–15 April 2012. Doha: Al Jazeera Centre for Studies/Palestinian Return Centre.
Smit, A. (2012). The property rights of refugees and internally displaced persons: Beyond restutition. New York: Routledge.
Torres, A. B. (2005). FMO Thematic guide: Armed conflict, peace progresses and forced migrants. Accessed July 18, 2016, from http://www.forcedmigration.org/research-resources/expert-guides/armed-conflict-peace-processes-and-forced-migrants.
UN High Commissioner of Refugees. (2017). Uganda: 2017 refugee humanitarian needs overview. Reliefweb. Accessed 21 July, 2018, from https://reliefweb.int/report/uganda/uganda-2017-refugee-humanitarian-needs-overview
UNHCR. (2016). Global trends: Forced displacement in 2016. https://www.unhcr.org/globaltrends2016/
Walton, O. (2012a). Preventing conflict between refugees and host communities. GSDRC Helpdesk Research Report. Birmingham: Governance and Social Development Research Centre, University of Birmingham. Accessed September 20, 2017, from https://www.gov.uk/dfid-research-outputs/preventing-conflict-between-refugees-and-host-communities-gsdrc-helpdesk-research-report
Walton, O. (2012b). Good practice in preventing conflict between refugees and host communities. GSDRC Helpdesk Research Report. Birmingham: Governance and Social Development Resource Centre, University of Birmingham.
Wehrenfennig, D. (2008). Multi-track diplomacy and human security. Human Security Journal, 7, 80–88.
Weiss, K. G. (1980). The Soviet involvement in the Ogaden War. Professional Paper 269. Alexandria, VA: Center For Naval Analyses.
Williams, P. D. (2011). Horn of Africa: Webs of conflicts and pathways to peace. Washington DC: Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars.
Young, L. A., & Prestholdt, J. (2010). Peace building in Africa. Journal for Peace and Justice Studies., 20(2), 117–135.
Záhořík, J. (2014). Ethiopia’s hegemony in the Horn of Africa: Internal tensions and external challenges before and after Meles Zenawi. The Journal of the Middle East and Africa, 5(1), 23–38.
Zeitvogel, K. (2016). How South Sudan’s leaders robbed their country: And nearly got away with it 13 Sep. IRIN. Accessed April 17, 2017, from https://www.irinnews.org/analysis/2016/09/13/how-south-sudan%E2%80%99s-leaders-robbed-their-country-%E2%80%93-and-nearly-got-away-it
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Nyaoro, D. (2019). Refugee Hosting and Conflict Resolution: Opportunities for Diplomatic Interventions and Buffeting Regional Hegemons. In: Schmidt, J.D., Kimathi, L., Owiso, M.O. (eds) Refugees and Forced Migration in the Horn and Eastern Africa. Advances in African Economic, Social and Political Development. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03721-5_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03721-5_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-03720-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-03721-5
eBook Packages: Political Science and International StudiesPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)