Impact of COVID-19 on peace and security in Africa

How will governments, regional organisations and civil society respond to challenges posed by the pandemic?

As Africa prepares to confront the health-related challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the necessary measures taken to prevent the virus spreading are having major implications on economies, political governance, and peace and security. Africa faces the loss of livelihoods for millions of citizens, popular uprisings, threats of food shortages, terrorism, the halting of ongoing peace support operations, and a surge in gender-based violence.

This seminar will analyse the impact of the pandemic on existing peace and security threats and responses in Africa. Panellists will consider various dimensions of the challenges posed to governments, regional organisations and civil societies.

Chair: Dr Paul-Simon Handy, Senior Regional Adviser, ISS

Speakers:

Amb Fred Gateretse-Ngoga, Head, Conflict Prevention and Early Warning Division, AU Commission

Mr Cosmas Chanda, UNHCR Representative to the AU Commission and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

Dr Andrews Atta-Asamoah, Senior Research Fellow, ISS Addis Ababa

Development partners
This event is funded by the government of Denmark. The ISS is grateful for support from the members of the ISS Partnership Forum: the Hanns Seidel Foundation, the European Union and the governments of Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the USA.
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