Much of Africa may have been spared the death toll that Covid-19 brought to other regions, but it now faces recession, growing violence and higher unemployment because of the pandemic, according to a report.

"The global economic shutdown has driven Africa into recession for the first time in 30 years, with severe repercussions for unemployment, poverty, inequalities and food insecurity," said the 2021 Ibrahim Forum Report.

Africa was the only continent where incidents of violence rose over the course of the pandemic. Mob violence rose by 78 per cent, while more than 90 people were killed by security forces implementing lockdown restrictions, the report said.

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