COVID-19 and peacebuilding: disruption, adaptation and transformation
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted peacebuilding. All travel has been halted and new ways of working have had to be developed. Programmes have had to be reviewed and adapted to the new circumstances. In most cases, international staff are now working remotely, and national and local peacebuilders now have to continue the work on their own.
Social and political protests, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, on the increase in Africa
Approximately 100 days into the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a notable increase in social and political protests in some countries in Africa. These protests reflect pre-existing frustrations with social and political conditions that have now been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 restrictions, especially in the spheres of health, education, politics and service delivery.
Coping with COVID-19: the role of public trust and cohesion in societal resilience
Public trust in governance and institutions has emerged as an important element that determines the resilience of a society to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. This helps to explain why some governments have been able to maintain onerous lockdowns effectively and why others with relatively strong economies and health systems are struggling to contain the spread of the virus.
African solidarity to address the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the continent
Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu provides an overview of the AU COVID-19 Response Fund
Active citizenship during the COVID-19 crisis: collective community homeschooling in Zimbabwe
In spite of all the intentions and efforts, people are being left behind, and the children of the global poor are receiving low-quality education, if any at all. The novel nature of the COVID-19 pandemic has presented many governments with new challenges for which they are ill-prepared in all sectors, including education. As countries join hands to flatten the curve – what can citizens do to lessen the impacts of the virus on human and social life? Are the efforts and alternatives fostered going to be inclusive and, indeed, leave no one behind?
The challenges and effects of COVID-19 on the DDR process in Mozambique
Mozambique’s definitive third peace agreement, known as the Peace and National Reconciliation Agreement, was signed by the president of Mozambique, Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, and the leader of the Resistência Nacional Moçambicana (Renamo), Ossufo Momade, on 6 August 2019. Although off to a slow start, there has recently been noticeable progress around the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) process of Renamo forces. However, these advances in the DDR process in Mozambique must be considered within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Emerging trends and issues as countries start to ease their lockdown measures
In recent weeks, as some African countries have commenced with the easing of lockdown and emergency measures – mainly to address the devastating effects of the pandemic on economies – various issues and trends have started to emerge that impact the relations between citizens and institutions.
The fears and hopes of African youth during the COVID-19 pandemic
It has been more than 130 days since the first reported case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Africa. When many were still trying to comprehend the outbreak of COVID-19, at the African Union (AU) we immediately adopted the ‘new normal’. The 13 consultations we convened with over 400 youth from 42 African countries were eye-opening on both the challenges and innovations by African youth in fighting the virus.
The spread of COVID-19 seems to have taken a different path in Africa, but is now starting to accelerate
COVID-19 seems to have spread at a slower pace in Africa than in many other parts of the world. In Europe, where the virus peaked in February and March in countries like Italy and Spain, the spread of the virus seems to be mostly under control for the moment (with the exception of Poland and Sweden), but all indications are pointing to the fact that they are bracing for a second wave of infections. Similarly, in Asia, countries such as China – where the virus was thought to be under control, are now experiencing a second wave. In other regions of the world – such as Brazil, India, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States (US) – the rate of infections is still increasing.
The military value-add in situations of crisis: the case of COVID-19
The breakout of the coronavirus (COVID-19) set in motion one of the most devastating global crises of our time. While COVID-19 started as a health crisis, the pandemic quickly morphed into a society-wide strategic, security and social economic crisis of monumental proportions.