African churches offer critical response to refugees and statelessness

African churches offer critical response to refugees and statelessness

RMP

Wed, 09/16/2026 - 14:35

As actions and policies of governments, state authorities, and armed factions create millions of refugees and stateless people in Africa, church and faith-based organizations have become key respondents, offering humanitarian relief, advocacy, and spiritual support.

Image

Photo: Fredrick Nzwili

By Fredrick Nzwili *

At least 45 million people are displaced and 1 million are stateless on the continent, according to the UN Refugees Agency, for reasons including war, conflict, persecution, colonial legacies, discrimination, and displacement.

Statelessness is highest in Cot é d ’ Ivore where the numbers range between 700,000-930,000. Africa ’ s largest refugee population is in Uganda with 2 million. Roughly 55 percent of these refugees are South Sudanese.

Archbishop Justin Badi Arama, primate of the Episcopal (Anglican) Church in South Sudan, said the church is responding to the needs of the country's many refugees, displaced persons, and stateless persons from the neighbouring countries.

“ What the church does…