As elsewhere in the world, COVID-19 continues to ravage Africa. The energy sector is among the hardest hit, with far-reaching consequences for access to electricity for millions of Africans.

Focusing on the electricity sector, in this paper we briefly discuss the status of the development of the electricity sector in Africa before the crisis, how that development pathway has been interrupted by the pandemic, and what the potential opportunities are, particularly for renewable energy systems. We conclude the paper with concrete policy suggestions that respond to both the challenges and opportunities.