News
Regional responses to COVID-19 in Africa

Regional policy monitor
The regional economic communities (RECs) and the African Union, as well as interested stakeholders, have responded to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and its impacts for trade across the continent. Below is a non-exhaustive list of regional responses, updated regularly from official sources.
Last updated: 8 December 2020 - 22:00 Southern African Standard Time
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COMESA
pdf COVID-19 Measures in Place in COMESA Member States: 32nd Edition (1.95 MB) - 4 December 2020
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pdf 31st Edition (809 KB) - 27 November 2020
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pdf 30th Edition (780 KB) - 13 November 2020
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pdf 27th Edition (725 KB) - 23 October 2020
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pdf 26th Edition (690 KB) - 16 October 2020
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pdf 25th Edition (732 KB) - 9 October 2020
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pdf 24th Edition (693 KB) - 2 October 2020
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pdf 23rd Edition (3.44 MB) - 25 September 2020
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pdf 22nd Edition (2.53 MB) - 18 September 2020
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pdf 21st Edition (1.34 MB) - 11 September 2020
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pdf 20th Edition (2.42 MB) - 4 September 2020
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pdf 19th Edition (2.53 MB) - 28 August 2020
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pdf 18th Edition (2.62 MB) - 21 August 2020
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pdf 17th Edition (2.30 MB) - 14 August 2020
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pdf 16th Edition (548 KB) - 31 July 2020
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pdf 15th Edition (540 KB) - 17 July 2020
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pdf 14th Edition (542 KB) - 10 July 2017
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pdf 13th Edition (734 KB) - 3 July 2020
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pdf 12th Edition (1.70 MB) - 26 June 2020
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pdf 11th Edition (1.53 MB) - 19 June 2020
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pdf 10th Edition (1.53 MB) - 12 June 2020
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pdf 9th Edition (1.47 MB) - 5 June 2020
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pdf 8th Edition (1.43 MB) - 29 May 2020
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pdf 7th Edition (2.40 MB) - 22 May 2020
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pdf 6th Edition (1.51 MB) - 15 May 2020
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pdf 5th Edition (724 KB) - 9 May 2020
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pdf 4th Edition (1.79 MB) - 30 April 2020
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pdf 3rd Edition (1.41 MB) - 24 April 2020
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pdf 2nd Edition (1.45 MB) - 17 April 2020
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pdf First Edition (1.08 MB) - 7 April 2020
pdf Implications of COVID 19 Pandemic on Debt for Sub-Saharan African Countries: COMESA Special Report (519 KB) - December 2020
pdf COVID-19 in COMESA Situational Update No. 39: Five Countries have Maintained Lead in COVID-19 Cases (1.64 MB) - December 2020
pdf How COMESA Can Mitigate Negative Effects of Covid-19 Pandemic on Trade: COMESA Special Report (322 KB) - November 2020
pdf Fiscal Policy Responses Limit COVID-19’s Economic Damage: COMESA Special Report (796 KB) - October 2020
pdf Economic Impact of Covid-19 on MSMEs in Africa and Policy Options for Mitigation: COMESA Special Report (346 KB) - August 2020
pdf Global Value Chain as a Vehicle for Development in Africa: COMESA Special Report (485 KB) - June 2020
pdf Diaspora Remittances Critical for COVID-19 Recovery: COMESA Special Report (597 KB) - June 2020
pdf Macroeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 in Sub-Saharan Africa: COMESA Special Report (785 KB) - June 2020
pdf COMESA News Vol. 1/2020: Bracing for COVID-19’s Impact and the Aftermath (2.01 MB)
pdf COVID-19 in COMESA: Update (602 KB) - 31 March 2020
pdf Why Africa Must Brace Itself for Devastating Secondary Effects of the COVID-19 (511 KB) - COMESA Report, March 2020
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EAC
pdf EAC Partner States adopt import duty measures to boost local production amidst COVID-19 pandemic (171 KB) - EABC Brief on EAC Gazette, 30 June 2020
pdf Additional Measures Announced by EAC Partner States in Response to COVID-19 and Their Implications (437 KB) - EABC, 14 May 2020
pdf Impact of COVID-19 on the Agriculture Sector in the EAC (1.50 MB) - EABC Brief, May 2020
pdf Heads of State Consultative Meeting of the EAC: Communiqué (181 KB) - 12 May 2020
pdf Cross-border movement of cargo within EAC during the COVID-19 pandemic (513 KB) - Joint Statement, 1 May 2020
pdf Revised Communiqué of Private Sector Associations on Free Movement of Cargo Across Borders in the EAC Region During COVID-19 (88 KB) - 28 April 2020
pdf EABC Snapshot Survey on the Impact of COVID-19 on Business and Investment in the EAC (851 KB) - 27 April 2020
pdf EAC COVID-19 Response Plan, April 2020 (1.94 MB)
pdf Impact of COVID-19 on EAC trade (2.25 MB) - EABC Brief, 24 April 2020
pdf EAC Administrative Guidelines to Facilitate Movement of Goods and Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic (8.87 MB) - April 2020
pdf Impact of COVID-19 on EAC transport and logistics sector (1.05 MB) - EABC Brief, April 2020
pdf Summary of Private Sector Recommendations on mitigating the impact of COVID-19 in the EAC region (75 KB) - EABC, April 2020
pdf Private Sector Recommendations to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic (1.00 MB) - EABC, April 2020
pdf Private Sector response initiatives to combat COVID-19 (3.17 MB) - EABC, April 2020
pdf Joint Statement: Ministers Responsible for Health and EAC Affairs on Covid-19 Preparedness and Response in the EAC region (1.46 MB) - 25 March 2020
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SADC
pdf Outcome of SADC Council of Ministers Virtual Meeting (311 KB) - 29 May 2020
pdf Outcome Statement: Joint Meeting of SADC Ministers of Agriculture and Food Security, and Fisheries and Aquaculture (45 KB) - 22 May 2020
pdf SADC Regional Response to COVID-19 Bulletin No. 5 (3.48 MB) - May 2020
pdf SADC Regional Response to COVID-19 Bulletin No. 4 (264 KB) - May 2020
pdf Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on SADC Economy: Volume 1 (4.40 MB) - April 2020
pdf SADC Regional Response to COVID-19 Bulletin No. 3: Report on the COVID-19 Pandemic in the SADC region (584 KB) - April 2020
pdf SADC Regional Response to COVID-19 Bulletin No. 2: An Analysis of the Regional Situation and Impact (6.15 MB) - April 2020
pdf SADC Regional Response to COVID-19 Pandemic (1.79 MB) - April 2020
pdf SADC Guidelines on Cross-Border Transport during COVID-19 (390 KB) - adopted 6 April 2020
pdf SADC Private Sector Communiqué on COVID-19 (77 KB) - 1 April 2020
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Tripartite States – COMESA, EAC and SADC
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ECOWAS and west Africa
pdf COVID-19 ECOWAS Ministerial Coordinating Committee Recommends Gradual and Coordinated Opening of Borders (71 KB) - 18 June 2020
pdf Final press release: Meeting of Ministers of Transport of the Member States of the Union (French) (1.12 MB) - 28 May 2020
pdf Final Communiqué: Extraordinary Session of the Heads of State and Government of the WAEMU (149 KB) - 27 April 2020
pdf Declaration of the WAEMU Conference of Heads of State and Government on the Convergence, Stability, Growth and Solidarity Pact (215 KB) - 27 April 2020
pdf Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government Videoconference: Final Communiqué (560 KB) - 23 April 2020
pdf ECOWAS Communique No. 02 on The Fight Against The Coronavirus Disease (640 KB) - 6 April 2020
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ECCAS and central Africa
pdf 9th Extraordinary Session of the Council of Ministers of ECCAS: Final Communiqué (1.95 MB) - 4 June 2020
pdf ECCAS General Secretariat: 3rd Strategic Crisis Meeting on COVID-19 and its impacts (113 KB) - 27 April 2020
pdf Third Special Session of the Steering Committee of the Economic and Financial Reform Programme of CEMAC on COVID-19 (French) (65 KB) - 28 March 2020
pdf Bank of Central African States: Communiqué (French) (1.09 MB) - 27 March 2020
pdf CEMAC Communiqué from the President of the Commission relating to Coronavirus (French) (250 KB) - 18 March 2020
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IGAD
pdf Ministerial Statement on the Impact of COVID-19 on People on the Move in the IGAD Region (100 KB) - 2 September 2020
pdf Final Communiqué of the 36th IGAD Heads of State and Government Meeting (885 KB) - 14 July 2020
pdf Communiqué of the 71st IGAD Council of Ministers Meeting (119 KB) - 23 April 2020
pdf Call for Action on COVID-19: IGAD for Ministers of Finance (409 KB) - April 2020
pdf Call for Action by IGAD Health Ministers on Response to COVID-19 pandemic (346 KB) - 8 April 2020
pdf Final Declaration on the IGAD Response to COVID-19 Pandemic (114 KB) - 30 March 2020
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Arab Maghreb Union
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International Conference on the Great Lakes Region
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African Union
pdf Saving Lives, Economies and Livelihoods (807 KB) - Africa CDC Pamphlet, October 2020
pdf Strategies for managing acute shortages of personal protective equipment during COVID-19 pandemic (322 KB) - Africa CDC, July 2020
pdf Africa CDC Guidance on Easing Lockdown (French) (400 KB) - June 2020
pdf Africa CDC Guidance on Easing Lockdown (455 KB) - June 2020
pdf Communiqué of the Joint Ministerial Meeting of Ministers of Finance and Ministers of Health (182 KB) - 3 June 2020
pdf AU Guidelines on Gender Responsive Responses to COVID-19 (1.59 MB) - June 2020
pdf Meeting of African Ministers for Agriculture: Declaration on food security and nutrition during the COVID-19 pandemic (377 KB) - 16 April 2020
pdf AU Chair appoints Special Envoys to mobilise international economic support for continental fight against COVID-19 (133 KB) - 12 April 2020
pdf Impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) on the African Economy (1.01 MB) - African Union Report, April 2020
pdf A White Paper on AUDA-NEPAD Response to COVID-19 (6.24 MB) - April 2020
pdf Africa Joint Continental Strategy for COVID-19 Outbreak (777 KB) - Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
pdf Africa CDC Guidance for Assessment, Monitoring, and Movement Restrictions of People at Risk for COVID-19 (748 KB) - March 2020
pdf Communiqué of the AU Bureau of Heads of State and Government Teleconference Meeting on COVID-19 (74 KB) - 3 April 2020
pdf Communiqué of the Bureau of the Assembly of the AU Heads of State and Government Teleconference on COVID-19 (348 KB) - 26 March 2020
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Additional resources on COVID-19 in Africa
pdf Pulse Check: Trade Finance in Sub-Saharan Africa during COVID-19 (1.23 MB) - October 2020
pdf Africa’s Pulse Vol. 22: Charting the road to recovery (5.66 MB) , - World Bank, October 2020
pdf Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and migrant remittances: Protecting an economic lifeline (1.67 MB) - UNECA/ONE, September 2020
pdf Harnessing Innovation and Emerging Technologies to Address the Impact of COVID-19 in Africa (2.22 MB) - AUDA-NEPAD, August 2020
pdf Africa trade and Covid‑19: The supply chain dimension (404 KB) - ODI ATPC Working Paper, August 2020
pdf Facilitating Cross-Border Trade Through a Coordinated African Response to COVID-19 (2.16 MB) - UNECA, August 2020
pdf African Group Statement on the Implications of COVID-19 (78 KB) - WTO, 25 June 2020
pdf Opportunities amid COVID-19: Advancing intra African food integration (1.79 MB) - AfDB Africa Economic Brief, June 2020
pdf COVID-19 Pandemic: Potential Risks for Trade and Trade Finance in Africa (2.13 MB) - AfDB Africa Economic Brief, June 2020
pdf Macro-Economic Policy Responses for Building Resilient Economies in Post COVID-19 Africa: Notes for Policymakers (4.76 MB) - AfDB, June 2020
pdf Macro-Economic Policy Responses for Building Resilient Economies in Post COVID-19 Africa: Summary for Policymakers (4.61 MB) - AfDB, June 2020
pdf Macro-Economic Policy Responses for Building Resilient Economies in Post COVID-19 Africa: Matrix of Policy Options (2.59 MB) - AfDB, June 2020
pdf Socio-Economic Impact of COVID-19 in Southern Africa (1.29 MB) - UNECA, May 2020
pdf Economic Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on East African Economies (2.00 MB) - Deloitte, May 2020
pdf COVID-19 and Trade in SSA: Impacts and Policy Response (2.47 MB) - World Bank Policy Brief
pdf COVID-19 Trade and related measures and responses in Africa (497 KB) - tralac Trade Brief
pdf Communiqué: Regional Impacts and Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic, and the Imperatives for Accelerated Health Integration in Africa (270 KB) - UNECA, 13 May 2020
pdf Impact of COVID-19 outbreak on supply chains, regional trade, markets and food security in East Africa (7.26 MB) - WFP, 8 May 2020
pdf Covid-19 and Export Restrictions: the Limits of International Trade Law and Lessons for the AfCFTA (244 KB) - ATPC Policy Brief, May 2020
pdf Impact of COVID-19 in Africa (1.27 MB) - UN Policy Brief, May 2020
pdf African regional responses to COVID-19 (1.06 MB) - ECDPM Discussion Paper, May 2020
pdf COVID-19 Lockdown exit strategies for Africa: Report (4.51 MB) - UNECA, May 2020
pdf The African Development Bank Group’s Covid-19 Rapid Response Facility (1.01 MB) - April 2020
pdf The Impact of Covid-19 on Africa’s Trade and Integration: Commentary by Trudi Hartzenberg (794 KB) - ISPI (Istituto per gli Studi di Politica Internazionale), 9 April 2020
pdf Africa’s Pulse Vol. 21: Assessing the economic impact of COVID-19 and policy responses in Sub-Saharan Africa (2.99 MB) - World Bank, April 2020
pdf Trade Responses to the COVID-19 Crisis in Africa (277 KB) - World Bank Trade and COVID-19 Guidance Note, April 2020
pdf Trade Policies for Africa to Tackle Covid-19 (1.20 MB) - ATPC Briefing Paper, 27 March 2020
Visit the COVID-19 Trade and trade-related measures in Africa page for measures adopted by African countries.