Macron Expressed Interest to Establish Partnership with SA Vaccine – Ramaphosa

By: Zilungile Mkhize

President Cyril Ramaphosa says following two decades of economic reform, the ability of many countries in Africa to implement macroeconomic policies that support a sustainable recovery is now constrained.

Ramaphosa had been speaking on the final day of the Paris summit on the financing of African economies in France.

During the two-day visit, President Cyril Ramaphosa held bilateral talks with African Union Chairperson and Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi; Angola President João Lourenço; Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara; Mozambique President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi; Senegal President Macky Sall; Rwanda President Paul Kagame, and Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbé to enhance South Africa’s diplomatic relations.

He says to boost the prospects for a strong and sustainable recovery, African governments need to mobilise significant additional external financing.

Ramaphosa adds that credit rating agencies need to play their role without acting as a deterrent to countries who seek to take advantage of credible and transparent credit relief measures.

At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron has called for a new deal for Africa which will include doubling COVID-19 vaccination targets for Africa by the end of this year.