Forced Displacement in West and Central Africa remains high despite increased returns, UNHCR calls for greater investment in solutions
Forced Displacement in West and Central Africa remains high despite increased returns, UNHCR calls for greater investment in solutions
With support from UNHCR and partners, refugees like Vicky Apuku, a widow and mother of five, can earn an income, support their families, and build greater self-reliance.
DAKAR, 11 June 2026 – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, called for greater international investment in solutions for refugees in West and Central Africa, including support for voluntary return, reintegration and socio-economic inclusion, enabling displaced people to move beyond long-term assistance. Despite increasing refugee and internally displaced person (IDP) returns across the region, forced displacement remains at high levels, with nearly 20 million people forcibly displaced or stateless as of April 2026, according to the latest UNHCR West and Central Africa Regional Trends Report.
While overall displacement has declined by 12 per cent compared to the end of 2024, this reduction is largely driven by returns and does not reflect a sustained easing of displacement pressures. Internal displacement continues to represent the majority of displacement in the region, with more than 14 million internally displaced persons.
The number of refugees and asylum-seekers has instead reached 3.9 million, marking a 23 per cent increase over the past year, with more than half living in protracted displacement, placing growing pressure on already overstretched host communities and national systems. More than 2.2 million refugees are living in protracted situations, representing 58 per cent of the refugee population, with one-third in exile for over a decade.
Women and children continue to bear the brunt of displacement, representing 80 per cent of refugees and asylum-seekers. Nearly 751,000 refugees and asylum-seekers are identified with specific protection needs, including children at risk, women at risk and persons with disabilities. At the same time, 1 million people remain stateless or at risk of statelessness, further compounding vulnerabilities and limiting access to basic rights and services.
Mixed movements towards Europe also continue despite an overall decline in arrivals. Malians rank among the top nationalities seeking asylum in the European Union, with around 1,900 applications per month, a 25 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2025 and recognition rates of approximately 88 per cent.
Across routes, refugees face violence, trafficking, exploitation, detention and limited access to asylum procedures and essential services. In the absence of legal pathways, protection systems and livelihood opportunities, many continue to undertake dangerous journeys in search of safety and stability.
Scaling up pathways to durable solutions
To address these challenges, UNHCR and its partners will continue to support government-led efforts to expand pathways towards durable solutions.
“To move beyond repeated cycles of displacement and assistance, we must invest in solutions from the outset,” said Abdouraouf Gnon-Konde, Director of UNHCR's Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa. “Governments across the region are demonstrating leadership by expanding inclusion and creating opportunities for refugees. With sustained support from development and humanitarian partners, we can help refugees become self-reliant, contribute to local economies and find lasting solutions.”
Encouraging progress is being recorded across the region. In the first four months of 2026 alone, 43,700 refugees voluntarily returned to their countries of origin, almost reaching the approximately 50,000 refugee returns recorded during the entirety of 2025.
Governments also reported more than 3.2 million IDP returns in 2025 and a further 389,000 returns during the first four months of 2026 mainly in the Central African Republic, the Republic Democratic of Congo (DRC) and Mali.
While increasing returns reflect improved conditions in some areas, insecurity, weak services and protection risks continue to limit prospects for safe, large-scale and sustainable reintegration. Sustained investment in livelihoods, infrastructure, governance, social cohesion and basic services remains essential to ensure that returns are voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable.
Several countries across the region are advancing practical pathways towards refugee inclusion through access to national systems and services. Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria and DRC are expanding refugee access to social registries, national identification systems, education, health services and legal status, demonstrating how national systems can help reduce long-term dependency on humanitarian assistance.
However, displacement pressures remain high and increasingly complex, driven by ongoing conflicts and crises in the Sahel, Sudan, the Lake Chad Basin and DRC. These situations continue to place significant strain on host countries, many of which are already facing economic and security challenges. Without increased support, millions of refugees risk remaining trapped in cycles of assistance, while host communities face growing pressure on already stretched resources.
UNHCR calls on the international community and development partners to strengthen support for host countries and to scale up investment in inclusive national systems, livelihood opportunities, basic services and infrastructure in refugee-hosting areas. Sustained and predictable funding is essential to transform short-term humanitarian assistance into long-term, sustainable solutions.
Read the Regional Trends Summary
For more information, please contact:
- In Dakar (regional), Fidelia Bohissou, [email protected], +221 77 569 91 60
