Issue No: 15/2021

COVID-19 Conflict & Resilience Monitor – 26 May 2021

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

U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt Samuel Rogers
U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt Samuel Rogers

This week we celebrate Africa Day because the Organisation of African Unity was founded on 25 May 1963. This edition of the Monitor contains a collection of pieces which reflect on different aspects of the continent’s peace and security landscape with the aim to promote a more peaceful and prosperous Africa! 

This week we feature Hanna Tetteh, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to the African Union and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union. In her piece, Ms Tetteh discusses the role of partnerships to support the implementation of African solutions to African problems.

Betty Bigombe, a prominent mediator who has represented Uganda in several peace processes, reflects on the importance of conflict prevention, which she argues is the key to increased stability in Africa. In particular, Ms Bigombe calls for inclusive national dialogue as an effective tool for conflict prevention.

We then turn to the situation in the Sahel, where Cedric de Coning and John Karlsrud reflect on the different options to increase international support for the effectiveness of the G5 Sahel Force. 

Finally, João Feijó provides a detailed analysis of the complex internal and external factors which contribute to the conflict in the North of Cabo Delgado. In explaining the interplay of these factors in the conflict, Dr Feijó explains how the cycle of violence can be interrupted. 

Chief Editor: Conflict & Resilience Monitor​
Managing Editor: Conflict & Resilience Monitor
UN PHOTO/Fred Noy
UN PHOTO/Fred Noy
COVID-19

Strengthening Partnerships for African Solutions for African problems: Implications for peace support operations

  • Hanna Serwaa Tetteh

The expression “African Solutions for African problems” has become something of a cliché. It is frequently invoked when trying to develop effective solutions to address peace and security challenges on the continent. It is a phrase that has also been misused by some leaders to advance their interests while trying to avoid scrutiny of their actions in handling their own domestic peace and security challenges and invoking the phrase in an effort to engage the African Union (AU) to provide a face-saving mechanism which perhaps they hope to influence.

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European Union photo by Dominique Catton
European Union photo by Dominique Catton
COVID-19, Trust between Citizens & Institutions

Inclusive conflict prevention is key to peace in Africa

  • Betty Bigombe

The key to a more stable and peaceful Africa lies in conflict prevention! Unfortunately, there is still reluctance, both by the international community and governments to invest in prevention. If we could focus more on prevention, much more could be achieved.

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ACCORD COVID-19 Conflict & Resilience Monitor
Data Providers: ACLED, UNHCR, OCHA & CONASUR / Data analysis & visualisation: J. Luengo-Cabrera
COVID-19, Cross-border / Inter-State tensions

International support for the effectiveness of the G5 Sahel Force

  • Cedric de Coning
  • John Karlsrud

At the UN Security Council and in other forums in Africa and Europe, diplomats are debating different options for increasing international support to the G5 Sahel Force. The aim is to enhance its operational capacity and effectiveness to restore stability in the Sahel. Despite the presence of the UN Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), the Group of Five Sahel (G5 Sahel) Force, as well as French and European Union missions, the security situation in the Sahel has significantly deteriorated over the last few years.

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Photo by JOHN WESSELS/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by JOHN WESSELS/AFP via Getty Images
COVID-19, Political Unrest or Violence

Interrupting the Cycle of Violence in Cabo Delgado

  • João Feijó

The conflict in the North of Cabo Delgado has been presented in international media as a phenomenon of terrorism and Islamic radicalization. This kind of analysis does not pay due attention to the political economy of the region, nor does it capture the complex internal and external causes of the phenomenon. 

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Does any of this information look incorrect to you, or do you have anything to share from your experience on the ground in an African country?

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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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