Issue No: 35/2021

COVID-19 Conflict & Resilience Monitor – 13 October 2021

The Conflict and Resilience Monitor offers monthly blog-size commentary and analysis on the latest conflict-related trends in Africa.

We begin this week’s monitor with a Feature Piece by ACCORD’s Chair of the Board of Trustees, Madam Graca Machel. Madam Machel writes about the need for change in South African society in order to bring an end to gender based violence experienced by South African girls and women. This is followed by an article from Chika Charles Aniekwe and Malik Samuel. They write about the security situation in the Lake Chad Basin and current challenges facing the region, particularly the threats posed by the violent extremists operating the region.

Finally, we end off this week’s monitor with a piece by Golda Keng, Prof Charles Ukeje and Dr Rhuks Ako. The authors write about the impact that COVID-19 has had on the youth and resilience that young people in Africa have shown in the face of the pandemic.

Dr. Cedric de Coning

Chief Editor: Conflict & Resilience Monitor

Mr. Senzwesihle Ngubane

Managing Editor: Conflict & Resilience Monitor

Katharine Bebington

Assistant Editor: Conflict & Resilience Monitor

ACCORD COVID-19 Conflict & Resilience Monitor

Photo: Darren Stewart/Gallo Images via Getty Images

COVID-19, Domestic & Gender Based Violence

For the sake of our children and youth: Let us build safer and more harmonious post-COVID-19 societies

Graça Machel

I am writing from a place of anguish as I continue to bear witness to the fate of adolescents and young women in South Africa, indeed, across the globe. It is the fate of young women in South Africa, and around the globe, to which I would like to give voice and flesh. This is about an everyday issue which we must resolve as a human family, but in the spirit of opening a debate, I have more questions than answers. I am also filled with a sense of unsettled urgency, as there is still so much work to be done to bring us closer to our world of justice and peace.

UN Photo/Marco Dormino

COVID-19, Political Unrest or Violence

Lake Chad Basin and stabilisation in the post-Shekau era

Dr. Chika Charles Aniekwe

Malik Samuel

Insecurity in the Lake Chad Basin has remained a matter of concern for both international and local actors. The Boko Haram insurgency, which started in Nigeria, has gradually transformed into a regional conflict affecting communities across the four countries of the Lake Chad Basin region. Therefore, what began as a domestic war on terror in Nigeria has now scaled up into a sub-regional effort to end the insurgency by both national forces and the regional Multinational Joint Task Force.

Photo: UN Women/Urjasi Rudra

COVID-19, Trust between Citizens & Institutions

COVID-19 and peacebuilding in Africa: Youth, resilience and innovation options

Golda Keng

Charles Ukeje

Rhuks Ako

Youth have gained more attention within the peace and security frame in Africa, and have shown resilience despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. They have also demonstrated innovation in their response to the pandemic to ameliorate the multiplier impacts on their communities. The link between health and peace and security has been amplified by the outbreak of the pandemic and youth play a central role in their respective spaces.

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ACCORD recognizes its longstanding partnerships with the European Union, and the Governments of Canada, Finland, Ireland, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, UK, and USA.

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