ACCORD has adapted to the new COVID-19 reality, refocusing and restructuring a significant proportion of its staff and its effort on identifying & monitoring, tracking &, analysing, and preparing & responding to COVID-19 related social-unrest and violent conflict in Africa.
Through our networks across Africa, and supported by available online data, ACCORD identifies COVID-19 related incidents and trends that may provide early warning of rising tensions that could develop into social unrest and violent conflict. Once the incidents are captured in the dataset, ACCORD analyses the trends and publishes a weekly COVID-19 Africa Conflict and Resilience Monitor, in order to share the information and analysis with all stakeholders.
ACCORD then works with its in-country networks and other local, regional, continental and international partners and stakeholders, to encourage and support interventions aimed at mitigating, and where possible preventing, COVID-19 related social unrest and violent conflict.
The first Conflict and Resilience Monitor for the year begins with two articles on one of the crises currently seizing global attention, which is the unfolding events in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Paul Nantulya writes about the regional dynamics of the conflict and the various rebel groups, countries and regional economic communities involved in the conflict. The article also discusses the various scenarios that could play out as the conflict continues to unfold in the region. This article is followed by Gwinyayi A. Dzinesa’s reflections on the options available to the intergovernmental organisations in the DRC, namely the East African Community, the Southern African Development Community, the African Union and the United Nations to resolve the crisis.
Batlokoa Makong then writes about the highly reported case to reclaim the Kingdom of Lesotho’s territory from its neighbour, South Africa. The article discusses the legal basis for the claim, set in its historical context and analyses the most viable way for Lesotho and South Africa to deal with this emerging issue. Remaining in South Africa for the next article, Erin McCandless writes about South Africa’s foreign policy options in light of the actions President Trump and his new administration has taken in response to new land expropriation legislation as well as South Africa’s policy on Gaza.
Finally, the last article of this edition is about the Horn of Africa and the impacts that climate change is having in the region. Abraham Ename Minko writes about impact that floods and droughts have on communities and the tensions and conflicts that then occur due to the scare access to resources such as water and grazing land.
The M23 rebellion has continued its advance following the fall of Goma and Bukavu, the respective capitals of North and South Kivu in the DRC, since late January 2025
Amid dire circumstances, there is a summitry consensus on the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the complex eastern DRC conflict and the involvement of key stakeholders such as the UN, AU and the RECs/RMs.
The reclamation of conquered territory by Lesotho’s Parliament, pursuant to the United Nations (UN) Resolution 1817 (XVII), is a matter that requires a thorough analysis and deep reflection
If you are able to share information from your experiences on the ground with the crisis in Africa, we'd really like to hear from you. Please get in touch!
