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.
Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu provides an overview of the AU COVID-19 Response Fund
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?
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
The emergence and spread of COVID-19 in Cameroon have added additional pressure and strain on a civilian population already faced with worsening internal conflict and a man-made humanitarian disaster.
It is now clear that the elderly is the age demographic most vulnerable to COVID-19. It is estimated that the disease kills 13.4% of patients aged 80 and older, 8.6% of those in their 70s, 4% in their 60s and 1.25% of those in their 50s. However, this data comes primarily from developed countries with resilient healthcare systems. In less-developed countries, which have shorter life expectancies, high levels of pre-existing conditions known to worsen outcomes and generally weaker healthcare systems, mortality is likely to rise earlier.
Women-led organisations that are dealing with peace, security and development are playing a key role in developing policies, strategies and guidelines for gender-responsive actions to prevent and combat COVID-19, and in post-COVID-19 recovery.
Kenya, like many countries around the world, is undergoing huge political and societal changes as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. The immediate response to this crisis in Kenya was to close down educational and religious institutions and other social places to avoid large gatherings of people, while most employers (where possible) have resorted to their employees working remotely. This article reflects on the conflict and resilience-related incidents and trends emerging out of Kenya due to COVID-19-related measures, by specifically highlighting issues of livelihoods, the economic impact of COVID-19 on gender-based violence, human rights and social unrest.
The spread of COVID-19 in South Sudan has had a negative impact on the implementation of the peace process and has placed further stress on an already dire humanitarian situation.
The COVID-19 measures have placed a responsibility on all of us to ensure that the strides that various African countries had made to consolidate their democracies by holding regular, transparent, and free elections are not reversed.
In March 2020, Mozambique registered its first case of COVID-19. Since then, the number of infections has been increasing and is spreading continuously, reaching all provinces in the country. The effect of COVID-19 in Mozambique is most worrying in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, where in addition to being the province with the highest number of infections in the country, is where the population and government institutions are subject to violent armed attacks by terrorists.
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development predicted a fall of 27% in global trade in the second quarter of 2020 as a result of the measures imposed to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Whilst the exact impact COVID-19 will have on specific African countries is not yet known, it is already clear that some countries’ trade will be significantly affected, among others due to the disruption of cross-border cargo movement.
Despite public health constraints, widespread infectious disease and poor nutrition, COVID-19’s toll on Africa has so far been less than initially feared. The economic impact of COVID-19 may be longer lasting than the pandemic itself. But the situation changes daily and significant uncertainties remain. The comparatively low rates of coronavirus infections and deaths in Africa are in stark contrast to the high rates of infection and death elsewhere in the world, for reasons that remain unclear. Despite public health constraints, widespread infectious disease and poor nutrition, COVID-19’s toll on Africa has so far been less than initially feared. The economic impact of COVID-19 may be longer lasting than the pandemic itself. But the situation changes daily and significant uncertainties remain. The comparatively low rates of coronavirus infections and deaths in Africa are in stark contrast to the high rates of infection and death elsewhere in the world, for reasons that remain unclear.
Some African countries have started to eased their lockdown measures, in spite of rising infections in some cases, to address the severe economic losses and livelihood vulnerabilities that have come about as a result of containing the spread of the COVID-19 virus.