Atlantic Council blogs

Atlantic Council blogs provide short-form analyses from Council experts and a wider community of global voices on the world’s most important news stories.
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New Atlanticist

Mar 25, 2020

Peace Corps faces new challenge with coronavirus

By Clintandra Thompson

But despite the positive momentum of US support for the organization, Peace Corps was hit with a new challenge. On March 15, Peace Corps Director Dr. Jody Olsen made the unsurprising announcement to evacuate all 7,334 Peace Corps Volunteers worldwide due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Coronavirus

The future is here

Mar 25, 2020

Coronavirus “bullet train” in New York; $2 trillion US stimulus approved

By Atlantic Council

Cases of coronavirus are spreading like a “bullet train” in New York, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo said, as cases worldwide topped 435,000. Among the latest to test positive for the virus is Prince Charles, heir to the UK throne. The White House and Senate leaders approved a historic $2 trillion economic aid package.

Coronavirus

AfricaSource

Mar 25, 2020

Tough times ahead for African oil producers

By Luke Tyburski

The precipitous decline in oil prices related to the coronavirus pandemic will have significant economic knock-on effects in Africa. Central African producers look to be the most vulnerable, but the shocks will be felt everywhere.

Africa Angola

UkraineAlert

Mar 24, 2020

Could coronavirus become Putin’s Chernobyl?

By Peter Dickinson

Official Russian coronavirus infection rates far lower than elsewhere in Europe, sparking accusations of a Kremlin cover-up. Could the pandemic become a new Chernobyl for Vladimir Putin?

Coronavirus Russia

New Atlanticist

Mar 24, 2020

The implications of the coronavirus crisis on the global energy sector and the environment

By Jennifer T. Gordon

The current drop in oil demand—caused, in large part, by severe reductions in travel due to the coronavirus—combined with the Saudi-Russia oil price war has simultaneously, if temporarily, lowered greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). However, the drop in GHG emissions is likely to be unsustainable in the long term, and the currently low cost of oil has raised questions about the future of clean energy deployment and climate action.

Coronavirus Energy & Environment

AfricaSource

Mar 24, 2020

African leaders respond to coronavirus… on Twitter

By Luke Tyburski

African leaders have embraced Twitter as a platform to provide updates on COVID-19. This curation of their tweets is meant as a window to the continent's evolving response.

Africa Coronavirus

AfricaSource

Mar 24, 2020

African elections in the time of coronavirus

By Luke Tyburski

African elections slated for 2020 are already being affected by COVID-19, with the potential for delays and disruptions to have significant impact on election credibility, political trust, and adherence to term limits across the continent.

Africa Coronavirus

AfricaSource

Mar 24, 2020

Cabo Verde braces for plummeting tourism revenue

By Luke Tyburski

When thinking of Africa, the tiny Portuguese-speaking archipelago nation of Cabo Verde probably isn’t the first country that comes to mind. But it is representative of a subset of small island nations, which rely heavily on tourism revenue. Accordingly, although Cabo Verde has only just recently confirmed its first case of COVID-19, disruptions to travel and trade present existential threats to the country’s economy.

Africa Coronavirus

AfricaSource

Mar 24, 2020

Rwanda’s successes and challenges in response to COVID-19

By Neil Edwards

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has issued a nationwide shutdown that took effect midnight March 21. Two days later, on March 23, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Rwanda doubled overnight to thirty-six, the most in East and Central Africa. Although the government’s response has been robust, many challenges still loom as the Ministry of Health attempts to mitigate the spread of the virus.

Africa Coronavirus

AfricaSource

Mar 24, 2020

COVID-19 pandemic: In a nation of extreme inequality, South Africa’s poorest are most at risk

By Alyssa Harvie

A major economy and transit hub, South Africa will be greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. But not all South Africans will be affected equally: nearly thirty years after apartheid, South Africa is still plagued by deep societal divides. As one of the most unequal nations in the world, the virus will affect strata of society very differently.

Africa Coronavirus