
West Africans welcome strong government action against covid-19. But many still don’t trust their government
As covid-19 blighted East and West last year, many African governments moved fast, ordering lockdowns — sometimes enforced with truncheons — and announcing plans to provide assistance to vulnerable families and businesses.
Some analysts credit this rapid action with helping the continent avoid the massive death tolls experienced elsewhere. But in some African countries, people took to the streets to protest seemingly unbearable restrictions.
How do ordinary Africans see their government’s response to the pandemic? Afrobarometer surveys in five West African countries (Benin, Liberia, Niger, Senegal and Togo) show widespread approval of decisive government actions, including lockdowns.
At the same time, majorities said that officials distributed assistance unfairly, stole resources intended for the pandemic response, can’t be trusted to provide accurate covid-19 statistics or ensure that vaccines are safe, and are using the pandemic to increase their own power.… Seguir leyendo »