COVID-19: A call for people-centered national security strategy in Africa – Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)

The author contends that COVID-19 has exposed vulnerabilities in African governance and that current responses are too reactive and focused solely on health security. The pandemic is projected to cause Africa's first recession in 25 years, significantly increase food insecurity, and lead to substantial job losses, particularly among youth. The document advocates for a 'whole-society approach' to security that balances health, economic, and political priorities to build resilience against future pandemics.

• COVID-19 is projected to cause Africa's first recession in 25 years, with GDP expected to contract between 0.7 and 2.8 percentage points in 2020. This economic instability is linked to a projected loss of 20 million jobs, primarily affecting youth, which may lead to violence and social unrest.
• The pandemic is expected to severely impact food security in Africa more than in other regions, with the food insecure population potentially doubling from 130 million to 265 million in 2020.
• Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to account for approximately 46 percent (23 million) of the global population pushed into extreme poverty due to COVID-19.
• Political security in Africa has been compromised as governments use excessive force to implement lockdowns, a situation worsened by a lack of citizen trust and the poor quality of institutions.
• The African Union's Joint Continental Strategy for COVID-19, adopted in February 2020, is criticized for focusing exclusively on health security and failing to provide a comprehensive human security framework that member states can adapt to their unique contexts.

APA

Kuol, L. B. D. (2020). COVID-19: A call for people-centered national security strategy in Africa – Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO). Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://www.prio.org/comments/836

Chicago

Kuol, Luka Biong Deng. COVID-19: A call for people-centered national security strategy in Africa – Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO). Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2020. https://www.prio.org/comments/836.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Kuol |first1=Luka Biong Deng |title=COVID-19: A call for people-centered national security strategy in Africa – Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |date=18 November 2020 |url=https://www.prio.org/comments/836 |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{kuol2020covid19, author = {Kuol, Luka Biong Deng}, title = {{COVID-19: A call for people-centered national security strategy in Africa – Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)}}, publisher = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2020}, month = nov, url = {https://www.prio.org/comments/836}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }