PRESIDENT KAGAME CALLS FOR COMPREHENSIVE REGIONAL RESPONSE PLAN AGAINST COVID-19

By Edmund Kagire, KIGALI Rwanda

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.

President Kagame made the call on Wednesday during a virtual meeting of the African Union Bureau with chairs of regional economic communities chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, who is the current AU chairman.

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.