Update on Peace Operations and COVID-19

Africa is severely affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Not only has the pandemic impacted the continent’s development agenda, but it could also reverse the gains already made in terms of respecting the rule of law by holding regular, free, fair and transparent elections. Since the start of the pandemic, some elections – such as those in Ethiopia, Somalia and Uganda – have been postponed.

COVID-19 could deepen fragility and exacerbate violent conflict, though data from regional security interventions to date suggest that not much has changed. However, with the rapid spread of COVID-19, the likelihood of a worsening security situation and a more constrained operational effectiveness of security personnel is a possibility.

Islamic State appears to have rebounded from its defeat in the Levant and is utilizing security and economic gaps caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to launch a resurgence in Africa.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted peacebuilding. All travel has been halted and new ways of working have had to be developed. Programmes have had to be reviewed and adapted to the new circumstances. In most cases, international staff are now working remotely, and national and local peacebuilders now have to continue the work on their own.

The Security Council on Wednesday echoed the Secretary-General’s call for a worldwide ceasefire, to combat the coronavirus pandemic that has already claimed more than half a million lives. The UN chief welcomed the long-awaited move, calling for countries to "redouble their efforts for peace".

The Security Council on Wednesday echoed the Secretary-General’s call for a worldwide ceasefire, to combat the coronavirus pandemic that has already claimed more than half a million lives. The UN chief welcomed the long-awaited move, calling for countries to "redouble their efforts for peace".

[…] The United Nations has reacted quickly to provide immediate assistance to national rule of law and security institutions in a number of countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In a wide-ranging interview, [UN Deputy Secretary-General] Amina Mohammed told DW the world must show solidarity against coronavirus. She also said the Security Council needs reform and offered an olive branch to the US in its standoff with the WHO.

UN Member States, Observers and others, sent a strong political message this week, with the announcement that 170 signatories have now endorsed the UN’s call to silence the guns, and stand united against the global threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative, prompted by Malaysia, shows that a large majority of nations are now standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the global ceasefire call that Secretary-General António Guterres made back in March, when the pandemic was just picking up speed.

Many aspects of life have changed swiftly from before, and since the early days of, the coronavirus pandemic. Within the international aid system, the nexus approach was flavor-of-the-month at the outset of COVID-19 lockdowns. … Fast forward though and the nexus approach has been almost absent in the COVID-19 response, which should have been an opportunity to advance this agenda, but has instead reinforced the usual siloed approach.