In his book “Unmasking Forced Displacement” Fikre Mariam explores the multiple intersections between the older colonialist legacies and the current wrong approaches and policies that make a significant breakthrough almost impossible in regard to the issues of displacement around the world.

Taking the Horn of Africa’s displacement situation as a case in point, the book discusses that a change in beliefs and values is needed to effectively address the displacement challenge. The responsibility for welcoming refugees lies primarily with states in so far as control over borders and territories are exclusive sovereign rights of states. However, in order to tackle forced displacement, empathy and solidarity are needed so that everyone has a moral duty to reach out when fellow human beings are in distress.

Unmasking Forced Displacement also debunks false narratives about forced displacement. It is partly a personal story and partly a bold analysis of the real causes of why people are forced to flee their homes.

“Ethiopian Memoir writing in Amharic and English has taken off in a big way over the last few years. Amongst the current crop of memoirs in English are those written by Ethiopians who have held prominent positions both at home and in international organizations overseas. Their perspectives on current global politics and humanitarian issues and dilemmas are important and pertinent. One such set of reflections is ‘Unmasking Forced Displacement’ by Dr Fikre Mariam Tsehai Senior Policy Advisor for Canadian Lutheran World Relief.”

Angela Raven Roberts, PhD

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Fikre Mariam Tsehai is a native of Ethiopia currently living in British Columbia, Canada. Fikre Mariam has over four decades of experience working on refugee issues. He studied Political Sociology at the University of Paris in France and graduated with a Doctorat de 3eme cycle. He served as adjunct professor at the Law Faculty of the University of British Columbia (UBC). Fikre Mariam is a recipient of the Human Rights Award by MOSAIC in 2016. 

CATEGORY
Refugee studies, Migration, sociology/AFRICA

PUBLICATION YEAR
2023

PAGE COUNT
208 pages