AU pursues debt forgiveness to address coronavirus impact
Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - African Union's top organ, the Bureau of Heads of State, has called for a global debt relief for African countries to help address the adverse effects of the worldwide Coronavirus pandemic.
The resolution to urgently seek international debt waiver was made during a virtual meeting of the Bureau of the AU Heads of State and Government, convened by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, the current AU Chairman.
Foreign debt is a common challenge for all African countries, the leaders said, agreeing to forge a common front in asking bilateral and multilateral partners to waive loans that African countries owe to free resources for dealing with the disease.
They noted that Africa needs an economic stimulus package since the slowdown in economic activities occasioned by the Coronavirus outbreak will cost the continent jobs and affect incomes of vulnerable populations.
African leaders further called for collaboration from international partners and the private sector in rolling out measures to mitigate the adverse effects of the pandemic, according to the Kenya Presidential Strategic Communications Unit (PSCU).
President Uhuru Kenyatta, who took part in the tele-conference, said Africa should step up its Coronavirus testing capacity. He said mass testing will be the only sure way of stopping the spread of the virus.
“As a continent we need to focus on expanding our testing capacity to enable us conduct mass testing as this is the only sure way we will manage this problem,” the Kenyan leader said.
Kenyatta also underscored the need for African countries to support each other. “Let us buy from each other what we can make on our continent even as we seek help from our international partners,” he said.
On intra-Africa trade, the African Heads of State and Government agreed that there is need to keep their territorial borders open for distribution of supplies as this will enable populations to continue having an inhibited access to key commodities such as food and medicines.
They however underscored the need to ensure that free movement of goods across the continent does not aid the spread of the infectious disease. They tasked their respective ministers of transport and health to establish appropriate safeguard measures.
Further, the Heads of State and Government resolved to enhance the sharing of experiences on the management of the disease and resources, noting that their countries need to support each other now more than ever.
President Emmanuel Macron of France who took part in the virtual meeting as a guest backed African leaders' position saying the continent deserves an economic stimulus package.
In his view, the stimulus package will ensure African economies bounce back after the pandemic. The French leader suggested that African leaders consider a humanitarian approach to the stimulus proposal that would ensure people have access to basic needs such as food, shelter and water.
Speaking during the meeting, in which also the World Health Organization (WHO) Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanon Ghebreyesus took part, Africa Centre for Disease Control (Africa CDC) Director General Dr John Nkengasong called on African countries to intensify the isolation, testing and treatment of Coronavirus victims so as to curb its spread.
On his part, Dr Tedros assured the Heads of State and Government of the WHO's continued support for Africa in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.
Presidents Macky Sall (Senegal), Emmerson Mnangagwa (Zimbabwe), Felix Tshisekedi (DR Congo), Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (Egypt), Ibrahim Boubacar Keita (Mali) and Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed participated in the tele-conference.
-0- PANA AO/AR 4April2020
