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The Impact of Covid-19 on the Middle East and North Africa

(Institute for Contemporary Affairs-Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Hussein Solomon - With the Covid-19 pandemic sweeping across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, how are the region's governments responding to the threat posed? Some, like the UAE, have been ahead of the curve, taking a slew of pre-emptive measures to minimize infections. In others, like Iran and Turkey, inadequate, delayed and fragmented responses have resulted in their becoming epicentres of the spread of the virus. War-ravaged Libya and Yemen, meanwhile, have no capacity to control the virus. Neither does Tripoli and Aden control the entire country in order to take the necessary steps to curb infections. What is needed are leaders with the necessary foresight to mitigate the impact of the virus while preparing for a regional and international order. The writer is senior professor in the Department of Political Studies and Governance at the University of the Free State, South Africa; a visiting professor at Osaka University, Japan; and a senior research associate at the Jerusalem-based Research on Islam and Muslims in Africa
2020-04-13 00:00:00
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