Somalia and COVID-19: The Pandemic as a Chance to Strengthen the State
Somalia and COVID-19: The Pandemic as a Chance to Strengthen the State

Author(s): Jędrzej Czerep
Subject(s): Governance, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Health and medicine and law
Published by: PISM Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych
Keywords: Somalia; COVID-19 pandemic; rational government actions; stabilization of the Horn of Africa; debt reduction; strengthening the state;
Summary/Abstract: The Somali authorities are using the COVID-19 pandemic to strengthen their legitimacy and trust in the state among Somalis. Rational government actions weaken the attractiveness of Islamic extremists from Al-Shabaab in this country, which may help to stabilise the Horn of Africa. If Somalia’s creditors see that the country is using debt reductions well, they will be more likely to provide similar support to the weakest states on the continent, where COVID-19 outbreaks may last the longest.

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