African countries warned of political instability from COVID-19

The African Union and the United Nations Development Program have identified several emerging impacts of the coronavirus pandemic in Africa, such as delayed electoral processes and political reforms, weakened service delivery, increased poverty and a likely increase in regional insecurity.

According to a report titled "The Impact of the COVID-19 Outbreak on Governance, Peace and Security in the Horn of Africa" released by the two bodies last week, extremist groups such as Al Shabaab have exploited the pandemic by using misinformation and to provide basic services in affected areas, further challenging governance and stability.

"The consequences of the pandemic could be long-lasting. The African Union will continue to support governments to make extremely difficult choices to address the impact of COVID-19 across the continent," said Smail Chergui, African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security, following the launch of the report.

In 2017, the Assembly of the African Union adopted a strategic document known as the "AU Master Roadmap of Practical Steps to Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2020". However, the coronavirus outbreak has disrupted some African Union programs and shifted governments' focus, leading to a precarious political and security situation on the continent.

With at least 28 million people experiencing food insecurity before the pandemic, the coronavirus is expected to deepen food insecurity by at least 19 percent in the region. In addition, the report highlighted the impact of coronavirus on women and young girls as a key area for gender-relevant intervention. Women make up 70 percent of global frontline health workers, and most informal traders in Africa are women.

According to the report, while the focus in African countries has been on mitigating the health and socio-economic impacts of the pandemic, the coronavirus could significantly impact governance, peace and security and reverse gains made in Africa.

The latest case of political instability is Zimbabwe, where the military and police are arresting scores of opposition party members and activists after authorities thwarted an anti-government protest last week.

The Zimbabwe government banned protests and deployed soldiers and police to clear the streets of the capital Harare on the eve of planned demonstrations last Friday amid fears of rising coronavirus cases in the country, after the viral disease claimed the life of agriculture minister Perrance Shiri last Wednesday.

"These past months of responding to COVID-19 have emphasized the need to make peace and security a priority in Africa, especially in fragile communities. This pandemic presents an opportunity to strengthen governance structures, solidify unity in the region and lays the foundation for governments to balance the need for addressing the prevailing health crisis with the renewal of social contracts between governments and the governed," said Ahmed Ogwell, deputy director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Despite the challenges posed by the coronavirus, the report concludes with renewed hope and opportunities for African governments, regional institutions, civil society and citizens to support grassroots solutions for conflict prevention, strengthen rapid and collective fundraising for interventions and explore the potential for intra-African trade, among other innovative and context-specific solutions.

"It is hoped the information contained in this brief will enhance our collective understanding of the unfolding consequences in the Horn of Africa and provide the foundation of relevant multi-dimensional interventions to address this crisis for humanity," Chergui said.