The Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on Constitutionalism and the Rule of Law in French and Lusophone- Speaking Countries of Central and West Africa

As the COVID-19 crisis worsens, its effects on the democratic development of African countries become one of the main priorities. Much attention has been paid to the question of its consequences for electoral processes. Its impact on constitutionalism and the rule of law in these states has not really been questioned. Much less attention has focused on French and Lusophone-speaking countries in Central and West Africa.

It is to fill this double gap that International IDEA is organizing a 2-hour webinar around the theme of the Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on Constitutionalism and the Rule of Law in French and Lusophone- speaking Countries of Central and West Africa.

The objective of the exchange will be, from retrospective and prospective practical analyses, to help decision-making of officials and feed the thinking of experts, teachers, researchers, journalists, citizens around this theme. 

More specifically, the discussion will consider not only the challenges in terms of socio-political dynamics induced by the COVID-19 crisis as well as its impact on constitutionalism and the rule of law in French and Portuguese-speaking countries of Central and West Africa, but also the opportunities it represents for their democratic development. 

The webinar will be introduced by H.E. Mrs Minata Samate Cessouma, Commissioner for Political Affairs of the African Union Commission and moderated by Maurice Engueleguele, Thibaut Noel and Mathias Hounkpe. It  will be live streamed on International IDEA’s Facebook page on Thursday, 23 April 2020 from 14.00-16.00 CEST. 

Speakers:

• Prof. Theodore Holo, Former President of the Constitutional Court of Benin
• Dr. Cristina Fontes Lima, Former Deputy Prime Minister, Former Minister of Health and Defense of Cabo Verde
• Prof. Abdoulaye Bathily, Former Special Representative of the UNSG in Central Africa
• Mrs. Michelle Ndiaye, Programme Director, IPSS

Discussants:

• Dr. Christine Desouches, Former Delegate for Peace, Democracy and Human Rights of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF)
• Prof. Guy Rosatanga-Rignault, University Omar Bongo of Libreville, Gabon
• Prof. Viviane Ondoua Biwole, University of Yaounde2, Cameroon, and Yale University, USA
• Prof. Joel Aivo, University of Abomey Calavi, Benin