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Published 23rd January 2020

Vol 61 No 2

Multilateralism falters as crises multiply

Copyright © Africa Confidential 2020
Copyright © Africa Confidential 2020

Sprawling conflicts in 13 conflict-wracked countries are dragging down indices for social progress, economic growth and stability. The second of our special forecast editions focuses on security

Out of 1.2 billion people and 54 countries, the security crises afflicting over 25 million people in 13 countries are having a disproportionate effect on the continent's fortunes as its leaders prepare to launch the African Continental Free Trade Area in July and make good on pledges to outlaw the trade in small arms. Yet the ambition to establish a single market across Africa has not been accompanied by parallel efforts to help the movement of labour to faster growing economic regions.

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Anti-government demonstration, Algiers, January 2020. Pic: Louiza Ammi/ABACA/PA Images
Anti-government demonstration, Algiers, January 2020. Pic: Louiza Ammi/ABACA/PA Images

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L to R: Ghassan Salame, Antonio Guterres, Angela Merkel and Heiko Maas, Berlin Conference on Libya, 19 January 2020. Pic: Wang Qing/Xinhua News Agency/PA Images
L to R: Ghassan Salame, Antonio Guterres, Angela Merkel and Heiko Maas, Berlin Conference on Libya, 19 January 2020. Pic: Wang Qing/Xinhua News Agency/PA Images

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