President Ramaphosa thanks Egypt for supporting African coronavirus efforts

CAIRO – 21 August 2020: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday thanked Egypt for its efforts to combat the novel coronavirus and to support the African efforts in this regard.

In an African Union video-conference meeting on the impact of coronavirus on Africa, Ramaphosa, whose country chairs the AU this year, asked to convey his greetings to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, thanking him for the earlier message of solidarity with the African efforts.

This came following a speech given by Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli in the meeting. Madbouli stressed that facing the coronavirus and also limiting the political, economic and social repercussions resulting from the outbreak requires continued cooperation and coordination between African countries, alon with their partners around the world.

He referred to the integrative and vital role played by regional economic groupings in facing the repercussions of the outbreak in Africa, and the importance of the harmony and coherence of their efforts along with the efforts made at the continental level.

Madbouli also stressed the need to continue urging international financial institutions and African and global private sector institutions to provide all means of support to African countries, to help them overcome the negative repercussions of the outbreak.

He also stressed continuous support to the medical staff and the health system in Africa and efforts to provide medical supplies and equipment.

He added that Egypt provided medical aid to ten brotherly African countries at a value of approximately $1.6 million. Also, a second and third batches of aid are prepared to reach 23 African countries, with a value of more than $2.2 million, he noted.

Coronavirus in Africa has so far infected more than 1.1 million people and caused the death of more than 26,000 people.