The African continent has historically been characterized by relatively permeable borders and significant population mobility both within and across state boundaries. In recent decades, the East African region has emerged as a major center for forced displacement, generating as well as accommodating millions of refugees from conflict zones within the continent and beyond. The management of the region’s porous borders and the increasing influx of refugees amidst socioeconomic and political crises presents a substantial challenge for both the governments in the region and the international community. This chapter examines forced displacement patterns in East Africa, focusing on refugees’ characteristics, living conditions, humanitarian provisions, and protection challenges faced by refugees and their host countries. It critically explores the notions of soft borders and the relative ease of international border crossing in Africa, and the main provisions of the widely depicted as generous and welcoming African Refugee Convention of 1969, and examines the degree to which this facilitates the admission and protection of refugees. It then examines how these factors influence host countries’ admission policies and service provisions for refugees, considering their characteristics and specific needs. The chapter argues that the regulation of permeable borders and refugee governance reflects a complex interaction of historical influences, regional obligations, and contemporary challenges faced by host governments. While East Africans seeking refuge in neighboring nations can often cross borders with minimal formalities and receive asylum, they face restricted movement, protection challenges, and limited access to essential services. Growing political pressures and strained economies have led to more restrictive refugee and asylum policies in the region.