When the Corona pandemic gained a foothold worldwide, it put particular pressure to several conflict situations on the African continent which usually don’t appear on the front pages. In a series for ZDFheute I focused on three of them: In Algeria the freedom of expression and freedom of press suffered from a strong backlash as Christoph Dryer from Reporters Sans Frontières told me in an interview.
For Mali, experts disagreed on whether Islamist terrorists might profit or lose – considering that the handling of the pandemic could further increase chaotic governance but also potentially affecting the health of a large portion of the population, extremists included. In Mozambique‘s Northern province Cabo Delgado violent attacks have been carried out for several years, likely also by Islamist forces. The region holds a huge amount of petroleum gas and could be the hotspot of another civil war as Professor Joseph Hanlon estimates.
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“Algeria’s recent law against so-called fake news aims at silencing the political opposition and critical voices. There is no freedom of press in Algeria right now.” Christoph Dreyer, Spokesperson, Reporters Sans Frontières
“Foreign interventions in Mali have to focus on how to enhance civil life and institutions. This war cannot be won by military means alone.” Wolfgang Kinzel, Analyst, German Institute for International and Security Affairs
“Islamism is being used as a false-flag in the Cabo Delgado conflict to raise support, fighters and money.” Joseph Hanlon, Analyst, The Open University