The Legal Status of Refugees and Asylum Seekers in East Africa: A Central African Republic Perspective

The Central African Republic (CAR) faces challenges in managing its refugee and asylum seeker populations within its legal framework. A qualitative approach was employed to review existing laws, policies, and case law related to refugee and asylum procedures in CAR. The analysis reveals a significant proportion (25%) of applications for refugee status are being rejected due to insufficient documentation provided by applicants. While the CAR legal system has established frameworks for dealing with refugees and asylum seekers, it faces challenges in implementation and enforcement. Enhancing administrative support for applicants and improving data collection systems are recommended to improve application outcomes.