One Year After: Has the COVID-19 Pandemic Increased Violence in Sub-Saharan Africa?

Conference 10/08/2021

Comment at Cadenabbia, Italy, 2nd Annual Gathering
of European Think Tanks and Academic Institutions with a Focus on Africa, organized by Konrad Adenauer Foundation

The authors of this GIGA Focus analyse the current COVID-19 situation in Latin America and the challenges facing the countries. Texto completo disponible en español.

With the pandemic, the risk of violence against women and children, especially within the home, increased further as people sheltered at home at the same time that they faced great financial and emotional stress. The authors of this GIGA Focus assess government efforts to address and treat gender-based violence.

A cross-regional comparative analysis of the effects of COVID-19 on violence shows high levels of variation between contexts and in terms of specific armed actors. While Latin America along with the Middle East and North Africa have experienced an overall reduction, violence in sub-Saharan Africa has increased.

By the end of May 2022, the mandate for the German military mission in Mali will expire. The decision on an extension should be made against the backdrop of two trends in Africa: the spread of jihadist violence and the growing influence of non-Western external powers.

South Africa finds itself in a severe crisis that has serious implications for its neighbours. The regional hegemon has largely been unable to engage in regional crises in a meaningful way. As a result, we see a worrying downward trend in Southern Africa, traditionally a haven of stability.

Two years into the pandemic, there are signs that sub-Saharan Africa will experience a modest recovery in 2022. However, inadequate vaccine supply, violent conflicts and structural weaknesses remain challenges for the region. We present an analysis of "ten things to watch" in Africa.

Bundeswehr University Munich München: 28/06/2021

Vortrag an der Universität der Streitkräfte in München

Conference 10/08/2021

Comment at Cadenabbia, Italy, 2nd Annual Gathering
of European Think Tanks and Academic Institutions with a Focus on Africa, organized by Konrad Adenauer Foundation

The authors of this GIGA Focus analyse the current COVID-19 situation in Latin America and the challenges facing the countries. Texto completo disponible en español.

With the pandemic, the risk of violence against women and children, especially within the home, increased further as people sheltered at home at the same time that they faced great financial and emotional stress. The authors of this GIGA Focus assess government efforts to address and treat gender-based violence.