ACCORD has adapted to the new COVID-19 reality, refocusing and restructuring a significant proportion of its staff and its effort on identifying & monitoring, tracking &, analysing, and preparing & responding to COVID-19 related social-unrest and violent conflict in Africa.
Through our networks across Africa, and supported by available online data, ACCORD identifies COVID-19 related incidents and trends that may provide early warning of rising tensions that could develop into social unrest and violent conflict. Once the incidents are captured in the dataset, ACCORD analyses the trends and publishes a weekly COVID-19 Africa Conflict and Resilience Monitor, in order to share the information and analysis with all stakeholders.
ACCORD then works with its in-country networks and other local, regional, continental and international partners and stakeholders, to encourage and support interventions aimed at mitigating, and where possible preventing, COVID-19 related social unrest and violent conflict.
In the first article of this month’s Monitor, Jessica Uiras reflects on the outcomes of an ACCORD-convened seminar where young leaders discussed how to strengthen Youth, Peace and Security National Action Plans across the African continent. Staying with the YPS theme, Moïse Balagizi, critically appraises the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) National Action Plan process. The article, underscores the growing need to harness the strategic role of the Congolese youth in conflict prevention and peacebuilding in the country.
The last two articles examine evolving global geo-strategic interests and rivalry; their impact on Africa as well as how the continent should respond to these issues. In this context, Xanthe Gittings calls for African Agency when it comes to understanding the dynamics that connect the Horn of Africa, its Gulf neighbours, and other actors. Prof Cedric de Coning reflects on the options at Africa’s disposal to lead and fund its own Peace Support Operations given the drastically changed international financial environment due to the reconfiguration of the global order, the Russian war in Ukraine, and the pivot away from multilateral approaches.
Youth peacebuilders shared experiences of political hesitation, bureaucratic delays and administrative processes that move slower than the urgency demanded by their contexts
Whether in community mediation, social entrepreneurship, civic education, or violence prevention, young people in the DRC are leading innovative experiences that deserve greater recognition and systematic support.
The idea of a Red Sea Arena, a term that refers broadly to the increasingly interconnected dynamics linking the Horn of Africa to its Gulf neighbours, has gained traction over the past decade, due to the complex and multifaceted situations and contesta …
If you are able to share information from your experiences on the ground with the crisis in Africa, we'd really like to hear from you. Please get in touch!
