framework for controlling the exercise of emergency powers in Africa”, African Human Rights LawJournal, vol. 20, No. 2.54 人权事务委员会，关于和平集会权(第二十一条)的第 37 号一般性意见(2020 年)；非洲人权和民族权委员会第 449 (LXVI)号决议，第 2 段；以及美洲人权委员会第 1/2020 号决议。55 见 https://africacdc.org/download/guidance-on-community-social-distancing-during-covid-19-outbreak/。56 见 www.achpr.org/pressrelease/detail?id=553。57 Applebaum, “The people in charge”; and Aungo, “Exposed: limits of State and public trust”.58 见 www.achpr.org/pressrelease/detail?id=553。59 Simbarashe Gukurume, “Zimbabwe: abductions, brutality, demolitions: when the State becomes moreharmful than COVID-19”, New Zimbabwe, 24 May 2020. 可查阅https://allafrica.com/stories/202005240128.html; and www.hrw.org/news/2020/11/20/uganda-authorities-weaponize-covid-19-repression。60 University of Pretoria. Centre for Human Rights, The Erosion of the Rule of Law in Eritrea: SilencingFreedom of Expression (Pretoria, Pretoria University Law Press, 2015); and James Nkuubi “When guns
19. Strong arm securitization is always accompanied by severe and unlawful restrictions to free speech and media freedoms and too often puts journalists in danger.60 In addition, COVID-19 control measures have been abused to facilitate more systematic political repression in some of the States that conducted electoral processes during 2020.61 Of the rights related to any electoral process, free speech, assembly, association and movement are critical. In one East African State, opposition politicians were systematically intimidated and harassed on the campaign trail.62 In another State in that region, an opposition presidential candidate was arrested while campaigning for the 2021 presidential elections and charged in court for violating COVID-19 protocols, sparking off deadly protests. 63 Of the 18 electoral processes that were scheduled for 2020 on one continent alone, at least 9 had been postponed by the end of 2020.64 Some of the elections have proceeded under conditions reportedly characterized by severe securitized constraints that ensured the contested victories of the 54 Human Rights Committee, general comment No. 37 (2020) on the right of peaceful assembly (article 21); African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights resolution 449 (LXVI), para. 2; and Inter-American Commission on Human Rights resolution 1/2020. 55 See https://africacdc.org/download/guidance-on-community-social-distancing-during-covid-19- outbreak/. 56 See www.achpr.org/pressrelease/detail?id=553. 57 Applebaum, “The people in charge”; and Aungo, “Exposed: limits of State and public trust”. 58 See www.achpr.org/pressrelease/detail?id=553. 59 Simbarashe Gukurume, “Zimbabwe: abductions, brutality, demolitions: when the State becomes more harmful than COVID-19”, New Zimbabwe, 24 May 2020. Available from https://allafrica.com/stories/202005240128.html; and www.hrw.org/news/2020/11/20/uganda-authorities-weaponize-covid-19-repression. 60 University of Pretoria. Centre for Human Rights, The Erosion of the Rule of Law in Eritrea: Silencing