Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Dr Naledi Pandor says cooperation between African countries has become even more important as countries face the Covid-19 pandemic and economic challenges.
She was addressing an end-of-year media briefing on the department’s implementation of South Africa’s foreign policy throughout the year.
“South Africa is a strong proponent of African unity and solidarity. We believe that continental unity, peace and prosperity are best started at bilateral levels… when individual states reach out to other states and seek to forge closer bilateral ties. Stronger bilateral ties provide the foundation for greater pan-African unity,” she said on Tuesday.
Pandor added that the country had embarked on forging those stronger bilateral ties over the past year, with President Cyril Ramaphosa hosting a state visit by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and embarking on visits to four West African countries.
She said efforts to fight Covid-19 on the continent and the country had provided some funding into the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (Avat) to provide vaccines to at least 26 African countries that might not have access to the vital resource.
“The main purpose of the [African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team] is to ensure that the African continent secures vaccines and has blended financing resources for achieving Africa’s Covid-19 vaccination strategy, which targets vaccinating a minimum of 60% of Africa’s population.
“Our donation will provide some assistance – modest assistance – toward achieving that target,” she said.– SAnews.gov.za
