COVID-19 struck Mali in a security and socio-economic context already weakened by the current political situation. UN Volunteer Saibou Diallo was deployed to an initiative of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), as a Project Coordinator. His task? To support the government of Mali in its response to the pandemic.

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Mali was one of the last countries in Africa to record an outbreak of coronavirus, however the impact of the pandemic on the country is now widespread, and tensions are mounting. In this article, our local peacebuilding expert from Mali examines the government measures to halt the spread of the virus, the impact of the virus on local peacebuilding, and the initiatives happening on the ground to raise awareness and keep people safe.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant effect on social life in the larger cities. Even though people did not previously hug or kiss to greet each other, they still shook hands and visited each other, and all of this social contact is no longer possible with the presence of COVID-19. The effects of COVID-19 were also felt in the educational sector.