Living Crisis, Building Peace: Exploring the Repercussions of the Covid-19-Crisis on Local Peacebuilding Initiatives in Africa

Abstract: For the African continent, historically conflict-ridden and home to some of the poorest populations worldwide, the Covid-19-pandemic is commonly described as crisis of unprecedented magnitude whose global ramifications transcend every dimension of daily live, for millions of people. This study explores the repercussions of the Covid-19-crisis on local peacebuilding initiatives in eight West- and Central- to East-African countries. It operationalizes a three-fold theoretical framework charting out the relationship between positive peace and democratic procedure for sustainable development. Conducting mail-in interviews with local peacebuilding activists from different contexts, the study captures a diverse selection of voices from a plurality of personal and professional backgrounds. The findings indicate that the Covid-19-crisis’ primary (health) and secondary (social, economic and private) ramifications have severely limited local peacebuilders in their capabilities to facilitate peace negotiations within and across their communities. The sum of impacts has exacerbated pre-existing socio-economic inequalities and bred mental health issues, in turn adversely affecting integrative ties, social cohesion and stability among community members. Against this background it becomes clear that working towards ‘peace, justice and inclusive institutions’ (SDG16) during and beyond such unparalleled times will crucially depend on local actors as much as on the international community.