President Paul Kagame of Rwanda has called on
the continent and regional economic communities to come up with a comprehensive
and well-coordinated plan to combat the New Coronavirus.
The Head of State commended President Ramaphosa, for leading the AU Bureau so dynamically during the COVID-19 pandemic and as the chair of the East African Community (EAC), gave an update on what the EAC is doing to fight the virus.
“On March 25th, health and trade ministers from the East African Community met virtually to align on key measures to prevent the spread of the virus in our region,”
“The focus of attention has been to minimise the cross-border movement of people, while ensuring that the free movement of goods is able to continue. The East African Community has also provided mobile testing laboratories for Member States to use at designated border crossings,” President Kagame told the meeting.
President Kagame said the East African region has made some good progress but there is more work to do, particularly in the areas of coordination and harmonisation, calling for more concerted efforts.
“A
comprehensive regional response plan is still needed, and really owning up
fully to this heavy responsibility where we not only do our best in our own
countries, but share information and harmonise the way we go about business in
the whole region,”
“This is
undoubtedly a difficult period for our continent and the entire world. It is
still not possible to predict the end of the pandemic and the resumption of
normal economic and social activity. Indeed, the road ahead may still be very
long,” the Head of State said.
In that
context, he stressed that the leadership of President Ramaphosa has been
decisive, working together with the AU Bureau and other Heads of State and
Government, both in the G20 structure and other forums, to register good
progress toward creating fiscal space for Africa.
“That is
why close coordination among Regional Economic Communities and the African
Union Commission continues to be a priority,” he said.
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