COVID-19 and African Borders in Transition is a timely and insightful volume that examines the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the reshaping of African borders. Edited by Samuel Kehinde Okunade, Leon Mwambe Tshimpaka, and Willie Eselebor, the book brings together contributions from multiple scholars to demonstrate how public health needs intersect with political authority, economic survival, and social realities. Using the pandemic as a lens, the editors move beyond a biomedical focus to analyze the broader implications for African border governance, cross-border mobility, and regional cooperation. The contributions of each chapter in the volume collectively present a strong argument that the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need to rethink border governance in Africa (vi).

Structured in four uneven parts, the book moves from an introduction to regional case studies in Central and Southern Africa and East and West Africa, focusing on borders, borderlands, and COVID-19, before concluding with a section on a borderless Africa. The opening section examines the implications of border closures across the continent during the pandemic, highlighting disruptions to bilateral agreements, trade, and migration (11). This analysis underscores the pandemic’s effects not only on national economies but also on regional cooperation.

The second section examines case studies in Central and Southern Africa and offers insights into the challenges faced by Congolese with poliomyelitis-related disabilities who engaged in informal cross-border trade during the pandemic. Focusing on the Kinshasa-Brazzaville border post and Ngobila Beach, the contributors analyze how physical limitations, economic uncertainty, and health risks threatened their livelihoods and daily survival. This offers an understanding of the complex interactions between disability, transnational trade, and global health crises. The section further highlights the nationalistic migration management approaches within the SADC region, which are attributed to irregular migration, cross-border crime, and trafficking—issues caused by inadequate border management. The contributors argue that securitization of borders in the post-COVID-19 era can no longer address the region’s border challenges. This shift in perspective presents alternatives for inclusive border management approaches that promote effective regional security and stability.

The third section shifts to East and West Africa, with case studies on Kenya and Nigeria. Kenya’s regional support efforts to address the challenges posed by the pandemic are framed within the context of geopolitical cooperation, underscoring the need for collective action in managing future challenges. The two chapters on Nigeria examine the country’s ongoing issues with petroleum smuggling and armed banditry. While the Nigerian government has implemented measures to control petroleum product smuggling at the Imeko border area, post-COVID-19 assessments indicate that these measures have yielded both successes and failures and have caused hardships for border communities. Regarding banditry, the contributors argue that the pandemic further contributed to the worsening of armed banditry and organized crime along northern Nigeria’s sub-national borders. Here, the contributors demonstrate how national border management decisions can lead to cross-border humanitarian and security consequences.

The final section places Africa within a post-pandemic borderless future and critically engages with regional frameworks such as ECOWAS and African Union protocols. The contributors highlight ongoing challenges faced by migrants and discrimination at border crossings, despite regional organizations such as ECOWAS promoting freedom of movement. The evaluation underscores the complexity of border dynamics within the regional context. The section further explores the global perspective on the pandemic and offers insights into how it transcends traditional divisions and identities. The emphasis on the importance of global cooperation in addressing challenges like COVID-19 shows the interconnectedness of the human race. It also provides a critical examination of the consequences of delayed ratification of the protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, Right to Residence, and Right to Establishment within the African Union framework. The analysis illustrates the social, political, and economic consequences of the delay in post-COVID-19 continental integration. The concluding chapter reflects on actions African states should take both individually and collectively to address border issues and promote free movement and trade in the post-pandemic era.

The book’s strength lies in its empirical depth and interdisciplinary approach. The contributors draw on diverse theoretical frameworks while offering nuanced accounts of new dynamics of African borders. However, the book has some limitations. The chapters sometimes lack cohesion, with overlapping themes across sections and uneven theoretical integration. Additionally, some concepts are explained without citation. The absence of a strong concluding chapter is noticeable and leaves the reader without a clear synthesis of the book’s overall analytical impact and contributions. Despite these shortcomings, COVID-19 and African Borders in Transition makes a significant contribution to scholarship on African politics, border governance, mobility, and public health crises. Its combination of detailed case studies and theoretical engagement makes it a valuable resource for researchers interested in the economic, political, and social dimensions of borders under crisis conditions, as well as policymakers seeking to understand post-pandemic regional integration and cooperation. With stronger editorial cohesion and a clearer concluding synthesis, the volume could have offered a more substantial scholarly contribution, but it remains an essential addition to contemporary African studies.