Egyptian president urges intensifying efforts to tackle coronavirus implications on Africa

CAIRO – 24 December 2020: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi called for intensifying efforts to compensate for the harm caused by coronavirus to the African economic, health and security situation.

His remarks came as he participated via video conference on Thursday evening in the summit of the Bureau of the Assembly of the African Union for the Chairpersons of the Regional Economic Communities in Africa.

President of South Africa and the current Chairperson of the African Union, Cyril Ramaphosa participated.

Sisi said the success of the upcoming African summit will stem from addressing urgent issues that impact the economic and social development within the continent.

He added that these issues in turn is reflected in the efforts to maintain African peace and security.

The meeting gathering the two presidents discussed preparations for the next summit of the African Union scheduled for February 2021.

Sisi, during the meeting, has expressed appreciation to President Ramaphosa for his keenness to hold meetings of the union despite challenges imposed by the coronavirus spread.

Sisi called for continuing collective efforts to boost the agenda of the joint African action amid the current critical situation.

During the summit, parties agreed to continue follow-up and coordination in this regard in order to settle on a mechanism for holding the next summit of the African Union, in a way that ensures its smooth organization and preserves the interests of the African continent and its peoples, the Presidency said.