The dynamics of armed groups in the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges around the world and has shaken the international system. Due to the imminence of this new threat, the United Nations (UN) multidimensional peace operations, which are often difficult tasks and navigate uncertain and complex contexts, were adapted. The UN Secretary-General and the Security Council called for a global ceasefire from which the levels of violence were expected to reconfigure. Non-linear changes were found, while some armed groups ceased their activities momentarily, others continued their attacks in the areas in which they were active. In this regard, the research aims to analyse the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the dynamics of armed conflicts in the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where two UN multidimensional peace missions - MINUSCA and MONUSCO, respectively - operate. The research will use systemic conflict analysis, based on documents, secondary sources and interviews to explore the possible motivations, objectives, interests and modes of action of the main armed groups in these conflicts in order to explain the variation of their activities during the pandemic.