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<p>CNBC Africa brings you a special highlight of the AMCE African Health Forum 2024 by the African Medical Centre of Excellence, a visionary initiative of Afreximbank and international and pan-African partners which seeks to become a platform where African leaders, policymakers and stakeholders in the medicine and science fields exchange insights in line with the objectives of the African Union&#8217;s healthcare goals.</p>


AMCE African Health Forum 2024: Highlights Special


<p>DAKAR, May 25 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;Senegal&#8217;s president and African Union chairman Macky Sall said on Wednesday that when he visits Russia and Ukraine in the coming weeks he will push them to unblock exports of grains and fertilizer to avoid widespread famine.</p>



<p>Africa is suffering from disruptions in food supply and soaring prices of basic goods and risks &#8220;disastrous consequences&#8221; if the situation endures, Sall said during a conversation with philanthropist Mo Ibrahim at the Ibrahim Governance Forum.</p>



<p>Nearly half of Africa&#8217;s 54 countries rely on Russia and Ukraine for wheat imports, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Russia is also a major supplier of fertilizer to at least 11 countries.<a href="https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL5N2WV5UH&amp;linkedFromStory=true" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read full story</a></p>



<p>&#8220;We have pleaded for a ceasefire, for an end to the war and for the release of all food products &#8230; so that the world doesn&#8217;t know a famine after two years of COVID and almost three months of war,&#8221; said Sall. Russia invaded Ukraine in late February.</p>



<p>&#8220;There are multiple initiatives to call on countries that have (grain) stocks to liberate them &#8230; and to ensure that Russia can authorize the export of cereals from Ukraine and can also export itself. This is the African position,&#8221; he said.</p>



<p>Parts of Africa are already facing record hunger levels, driven by insecurity, climate shocks and the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.L5N2W23Z3</p>



<p>If food supply blockages were to continue and there was a famine, Sall said: &#8220;The world would not be able to contain the consequences because it would be massive on immigration. It would be dramatic for African countries.&#8221;</p>



<p>Sall said on Sunday he would visit Moscow and Kyiv in his capacity as chairman of the African Union, which wants peace in Ukraine through dialogue between the two sides.<a href="https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL5N2XE0BP&amp;linkedFromStory=true" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read full story</a></p>



<p>(Reporting by Bate Felix; Writing by Nellie Peyton; editing by Grant McCool)</p>


grains

African Union head to push Russia, Ukraine to unblock grain exports￼

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<p>Nissan is restructuring its African business as the African Union pushes a drive to increase trading with member states. Mike Witfield, Managing Director for Nissan Africa joins  CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Nissan restructures African business to drive growth

Nissan restructures Africa business to drive growth

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<p>The African Union has suspended Mali’s membership and threatened to sanction the nation in response to last week’s military coup. The move comes just days after West African leaders suspended Mali from the ECOWAS bloc. Joining CNBC Africa to discuss the implications for investors is Kwadwo Sarkodie, Partner at Mayer Brown.</p>


AU suspends Mali

AU suspends Mali, threatens further sanctions

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<p>The African Union held its 34th General Assembly virtually over the weekend where elections for new commissioners were also held. Rwanda&#8217;s Monique Nsanzabaganwa was elected as the AU’s deputy chairperson becoming the first woman to hold the role; she joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


New AU Deputy Chair discusses role

New AU Deputy Chair discusses role, AfCFTA

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<p>The COVID-19 crisis has strengthened the role of digitalisation in contributing to Africa’s productive transformation and in fulfilling Agenda 2063, the African Union’s vision for the continent’s development. That’s according to the OECD Development Centre in a joint report with the African Union&#8217;s Commission for Economic Affairs. The OECD notes that the digital transformation is expanding to almost all economic sectors in Africa. So how can Africa take advantage of this digital transformation to jumpstart its post-COVID-19 recovery? Mario Pezzini, Director of the OECD Development Centre joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Here’s how digital transformation is shaping Africa’s development agenda

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<p>Various African artists, community activists, academics, business leaders and African youth uniting under the African Union have come together and formed a coalition to end violence and conflicts to promote peace across Africa. CNBC Africa spoke with Emmanuel Jal, Spokesperson, #MyPledgeforPeace for more.</p>


Emmanuel Jal on the economic impact of silencing guns in Africa

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<p>With a sovereign debt crisis looming in many African countries, including South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa has pleaded for a global response to prevent a debt crisis in the continent. The President, who is also the Chair of the African Union, has urged private creditors to provide much needed debt relief, so that growth is not stifled in these economies. Joining CNBC Africa for more is Charles Robertson, Global Chief Economist at Renaissance Capital and Roy Mutooni, Analyst at ABSA Asset Management.</p>


How to prevent a looming debt crisis in Africa

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<p>Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council has approved the ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement ahead of its December 5th deadline. Nigeria’s Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice will now prepare the AfCFTA Ratification Instrument for assent by President Muhammadu Buhari before it is transmitted to the African Union. Kyari Bukar, Former Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Nigeria ratifies AfCFTA membership

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<p>African Union sanctions for unpaid dues, desert locusts wreaking havoc on agriculture and a promising new deal on State allocation meant to enhance local trade; these are the stories making news in South Sudan. CNBC Africa spoke to analyst, Akol Dok for more.</p>


South Sudan leaders reach key deal on control of states


<p>Given the severity of the Covid-19 pandemic, Africa could be facing an economic crisis of unprecedented magnitude. Although the peak of the epidemic has not yet hit the continent, all economic indicators are currently flashing red as a result of preventive measures such as lockdowns and national border closures across most of the continent.</p>



<p>Why should we be so concerned with what is happening across the Mediterranean? Because if the growth dynamic recorded in Africa over the past several decades stalls, it is Europe that will suffer the consequences in a later stage. Everything that has been undertaken with the help of development aid and the setting up of structuring partnerships at the economic level as well as at the health and education levels is at risk of being reduced to nothing. For example, more than 8 million children have been enrolled in primary and more than 160,000 in secondary education in Africa as a result of EU-funded interventions in 2013-2014. This ambitious partnership needs to continue on an ever-stronger footing. Needless to also say that a new wave of migration would also have an impact on our societies: the looming economic crisis would be coupled with a real political crisis that would undoubtedly give populist parties the upper hand in the next elections.</p>



<p>As European politicians, Africa is one of our priorities. Sceptics need only remember the first trip made by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen; her first official trip, just a week after taking office, was to Addis Ababa, to the African Union&#8217;s headquarters. Two months later she went back, along with 20 of the 27 European Commissioners, a sign that Africa and the EU have a real “common destiny” and an ambitious partnership to rebuild.</p>



<p>We need to think, and fast, about how we can help our African partner in the race against time as it faces the predicted economic disaster in the wake of the global covid-19 pandemic. Let&#8217;s ask ourselves the right questions: what works in Africa, what are the factors for development and growth? One is undoubtedly Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), since Africa had more than 400 million Internet users in 2018 – that’s 20% more than in 2017. Mobile phones are the preferred means of accessing the Internet (used three times more than computers) and the United Nations estimates that mobile phone operators are major job creators today. Before the crisis, it was predicted that the mobile phone industry would generate 7.9% of GDP and create 3.45 million jobs in sub-Saharan Africa by 2022.</p>



<p>As Co-Chair and Vice-Chair of the soon to be established RUMRA &amp; Smart Villages Intergroup in the European Parliament, we know how important access to a good Internet connection is as a factor for growth. The intergroup aims to “promote the integrated development of European territories in all their diversity”. And what is true for Europe is all the more true for Africa! ICTs facilitate access to education, they contribute to increasing business productivity, and they represent real added value in the agricultural sector, for example by giving family farmers access to targeted information on techniques to improve their yields.</p>



<p>In light of these facts, there is an urgent need to support the companies operating in the ICT sector that are working on providing Internet access and deploying fibre optics on the African continent, such as Vodafone, Orange, or Huawei Northern Africa. Huawei for instance provides 200,000 kilometers of optical fibre network coverage on the African continent, and owns 50% of the 3G and 4G networks. Orange invests 1 billion euros every year in network development in Africa and Vodafone now has more than 170 million mobile customers across eight African countries, with 4G networks launched in many African markets. These groups are engines of growth and potential solutions to the impending crisis. In this process we need to make sure not to single out any of these companies for geo-strategic considerations that should have no place in our economic considerations. As free marketeers our decisions need to be based solely on merit and the ability of any given company to provide the ICT solutions needed.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Without complicity, without naivety, we have to think about what will impact us positively in the short, medium and long term. Our fear is that our reluctance to move towards greater connectivity will impact our economies, and those of our neighbors, and Africa first and foremost. So let&#8217;s be responsible, let&#8217;s be political, and let&#8217;s take responsibility for our choices. ICTs are one of the ways out of the crisis caused by Covid-19, so let&#8217;s not deprive anyone, and especially not Africa!</p>



<p><strong>Franc Bogovic</strong>, Member of the European Parliament from Slovenia in the centre right group of the European People&#8217;s Party &amp;</p>



<p><strong>Engin Eroglu</strong>, Member of the European Parliament from Germany in the liberal Renew Europe Group</p>



<p>For more coverage on COVID-19 visit: <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/covid-19/">https://www.cnbcafrica.com/covid-19/</a></p>


Op-Ed: Supporting the ICT sector in Africa as a cure for the economic crisis


<p><strong>Why business has a greater role to play in mitigating conflict with COVID-19</strong></p>



<p>By <a href="https://twitter.com/chidomunyati?lang=en">Chido Munyati</a>, Lead, Africa regional team, World Economic Forum.</p>



<p>A <a href="https://au.int/sites/default/files/documents/38326-doc-covid-19_impact_on_african_economy.pdf">report</a> by the Africa Union estimates that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, “nearly 20 million jobs, both in the formal and informal sectors, are threatened with destruction”. The resulting potential for social unrest is largely due to the disproportionately-affected youth demographic (15-24 years), whose level of unemployment is <a href="https://media.africaportal.org/documents/Occasional_Paper_30_En.pdf">twice that of older adults</a>.</p>



<p>Africa is demographically the world’s youngest continent. By 2030, one fifth of the global labour force – and nearly <a href="https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_norm/---relconf/documents/meetingdocument/wcms_728052.pdf">one third of the global youth labour force</a> – will be from this region. While 10 to 12 million youth enter the workforce each year, <a href="https://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Images/high_5s/Job_youth_Africa_Job_youth_Africa.pdf">only 3 million formal jobs are created</a>. Indeed, the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will likely exacerbate this trend. Notably, in the first month of the crisis, it has been <a href="https://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_743036/lang--en/index.htm">estimated</a> that the income of informal workers in the region dropped by 81%. In Africa, 85.8% of employment, and <a href="https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_norm/---relconf/documents/meetingdocument/wcms_728052.pdf">95% of youth employment</a>, is informal. The ILO defines informal employment as “employment without legal or social protection”. This work is often characterized by low pay, erratic hours, uncertain employment status, and hazardous working conditions.</p>



<p><strong>For more stories on the impact of COVID-19 on Africa visit: </strong><a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/covid-19/">https://www.cnbcafrica.com/covid-19/</a></p>



<p>Worryingly, the combination of the region’s demographic dividend and the <a href="https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2020/04/09/covid-19-coronavirus-drives-sub-saharan-africa-toward-first-recession-in-25-years">first recession in 25 years</a> will probably increase the risk of social unrest. There is a <a href="https://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Publications/Working_Paper_171_-_Youth_Unemployment_and_Political_Instability_in_Selected_Developing_Countries.pdf">considerable body of literature that argues</a>, both from theoretical and empirical perspectives, that large youth unemployment – associated with socioeconomic inequalities and corruption – is a driver for instability and national insecurity. For example, access to quality jobs was a <a href="https://atlantic-community.org/youth-unemployment-north-africas-ticking-time-bomb/">central demand and a key driver</a> of the Arab Spring protests. Moreover, in the <em>Regional Risks for Doing Business 2020</em> <a href="https://www.weforum.org/reports/regional-risks-for-doing-business-2019">report</a>, for the second year running, business identified “unemployment or underemployment” as the top risk in the region.</p>



<p>While the primary responsibility for peace, security and development must rest with governments, we are witnessing a <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2891391">growing acceptance and enquiry</a> into multitrack approaches to conflict prevention, whereby private-sector efforts complement those of the public and civil society sectors. An <a href="https://www.usb.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Brian-Ganson-A-Seat-at-the-Table_FINAL-010819-Web.pdf">analysis of patterns across case studies</a> suggests that companies can help establish or sustain peace, or mitigate conflict. Attempts have been made to develop a <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9780230277052_1">theoretical framework</a> for measuring the effects of private-sector activities on the development of peace and security.</p>



<p>Effectiveness in conflict prevention and peacebuilding flows from intervention into the key driving factors of conflict – factors without which the conflict would not exist or would be significantly different.</p>



<p>To the extent that private-sector actors aspire to change the driving factors of conflict and violence sufficient to achieve positive outcomes, there needs to be a clear theory of change, which analyses the key drivers of conflict and resilience and conceptualizes strategies for transforming conflict dynamics. <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/11/what-is-a-transformation-map/">Transformation Maps</a> are a knowledge tool that can help stakeholders move from anecdotal evidence to a more rigorous and systematic understanding of the drivers of conflict and resilience.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="872" height="774" src="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Africa_Transformation_Map.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-373223" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Africa_Transformation_Map.jpg 872w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Africa_Transformation_Map-300x266.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Africa_Transformation_Map-768x682.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Africa_Transformation_Map-696x618.jpg 696w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Africa_Transformation_Map-600x533.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 872px) 100vw, 872px" /></figure>



<p>Importantly, any role for business can only complement other elements of conflict prevention and should not be seen as distinct. One implication of a systems perspective to conflict prevention and peacebuilding is that the effect of any intervention derives from the impacts that the activities have on drivers of conflict within a larger conflict system, and not from any intrinsic good that comes from a particular standalone activity.</p>



<p>For example, an <a href="https://www.iisd.org/sites/default/files/publications/igf-asm-global-trends.pdf">estimated 9 million people</a> (mostly youth) in Africa are directly involved in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) – and an additional 54 million indirectly depend on ASM for their livelihoods. (In most African countries, 5-20% of the population directly depends on ASM.) However, almost all ASM activities are informal and occur outside of legal frameworks. Consequently, the illegal trade of minerals <a href="http://pratclif.com/2015/mines-ressources/polinares/chapter7.pdf">contributes to violent conflicts</a>.</p>



<p>Global mining companies are attempting to <a href="http://www.aga-reports.com/18/sdr/material-issues/asm">address</a> these discrete drivers of conflict – vulnerable employment, inequality and exclusion – by providing artisanal miners with geological, value-addition and administrative support. But these local-level interventions must be integrated into regional and international regional mechanisms that legalize and formalize ASM activities.</p>



<p>By weakening or transforming the drivers of conflict, companies can help reduce the risk of conflict, and better ensure the <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/234d8fd6-6e29-11ea-89df-41bea055720b">long-term preservation and resilience</a> of their businesses. In all cases, these interventions should be undertaken in ways that acknowledge the primacy of local actors, are sensitive to the complex context, and help build trust and confidence.</p>



<p>In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be an even greater demand for job security in Africa; and there will be a need to further develop inclusive business models that facilitate young people’s transition to the formal economy, which in turn will reduce the risk of instability.</p>


shutterstock_26336285

Op-Ed: COVID-19 is likely to lead to a vast increase in youth unemployment in Africa, this is how business can mitigate the damage…


<p>While hosting <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/videos/2020/04/09/afdb-announces-10bn-war-chest-to-fight-covid-19/">African Development Bank</a> (AfDB) President Akinwumi Adesina on a courtesy visit at State House on Tuesday, Nigerian President <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/videos/2020/06/01/grading-buharis-economic-performance-over-the-past-5-years/">Muhammadu Buhari</a> said the country will support Adesina in his bid to get re-elected as President of the multilateral bank.</p>



<p>This follows several <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/west-africa/2020/06/01/stop-this-culture-of-frivolous-allegations-former-world-bank-treasurer-arunma-oteh-defends-african-development-bank-president/">allegations of misconduct</a> against Adesina at the financial institution, of which he has denied.</p>



<p>The following statement provides further details:</p>



<p><strong>PRESIDENT BUHARI TO AfDB PRESIDENT, ADESINA: I’LL STAND BY YOU</strong></p>



<p>President Muhammadu Buhari says Nigeria will stand solidly behind Dr Akinwumi Adesina in his bid to get re-elected as President of the African Development Bank (AfDB)</p>



<p>The President spoke at State House, Abuja, Tuesday, while hosting Dr Adesina on a courtesy visit.</p>



<p>“In 2015, when you were to be elected for the first term, I wrote to all African leaders, recommending you for the position. I didn’t say because you were a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Minister, and I belonged to the All Progressives Congress (APC), so I would withhold my support. I’ll remain consistent with you, because no one has faulted the step I took on behalf of Nigeria,” said President Buhari.</p>



<p>The President pledged that Nigeria would work with all other leaders and stakeholders in AfDB to ensure that Dr Adesina was elected for a second term built on the record of his achievements during his first term.</p>



<p>The African Union had already endorsed the incumbent AfDB President as sole candidate for the continent, but some other stakeholders are trying to ensure that Dr Adesina is re-investigated on some allegations, and rendered ineligible to run.</p>



<p>Giving a background to what was happening in the bank, Dr Adesina, a former Nigerian Minister for Agriculture, said the 16 allegations raised against him were trumped up, “and without facts, evidence, and documents, as required by the rules and regulations of the bank.”</p>



<p>He added that the Ethics Committee of the bank cleared him of all the allegations, and calls for fresh investigation by the United States of America, were against the rules.</p>



<p>“My defense ran into 250 pages, and not a single line was faulted or questioned. The law says that report of the Ethics Committee should be transmitted to the Chairman of Governors of the bank. It was done, and the governors upheld the recommendations. That was the end of the matter, according to the rules. It was only if I was culpable that a fresh investigation could be launched. I was exonerated, and any other investigation would amount to bending the rules of the bank, to arrive at a predetermined conclusion,” Dr Adesina said.</p>



<p>Stressing that the motive was to soil his name, and that of the bank, the AfDB President said he was proud to be Nigerian, and thanked President Buhari for his unflinching support.</p>



<p>“You helped me to get elected in the first place, and you have supported me robustly all along, and the African Union unanimously endorsed my re-election” he declared.</p>



<p>While commiserating with President Buhari on the death of the former Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari, Dr Adesina described Professor Ibrahim Gambari, new Chief of Staff as “a man of integrity, and of global standing.”</p>


President Buhari to AfDB President Adesina: “I’ll stand by you”

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<p>Members of the African Union had set July 1 as the day to operationalize the African Free Trade Area Agreement but with COVID-19 pandemic affecting all member countries, this has been pushed back to a yet to be named date though some experts believe the AfCFTA implementation should go ahead. So could this be an opportunity for improved Intra Africa trade? Hippolyte Fofack, Chief Economist Afreximbank joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Afreximbank on COVID-19 opportunities & challenges for intra-Africa trade


<p>In a roundtable discussion on Wednesday made up of several African leaders, organised by the New York Forum Institute, Chairman of the <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/coronavirus/2020/03/28/tony-elumelus-united-bank-for-africa-donates-14mn-to-covid-19-relief-across-africa-this-is-how-it-will-be-used/">United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc</a> Tony Elumelu stated that the global <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/covid-19/">COVID-19</a> pandemic presents an opportunity to ‘reset’ the African continent.</p>



<p>The statement below provides a full summary of the meeting:</p>



<p><strong>Elumelu says Covid-19 Presents Opportunity to Reset Africa&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p>·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Advocates Martial Plan to Boost Electricity And Ease Debt Burden</p>



<p>·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Wants Youths Prioritised as SMEs are Empowered</p>



<p>The Chairman of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Tony Elumelu, has stated that the Coronavirus Pandemic currently ravaging the world presents an opportunity to reset the African continent so that Africans can be empowered to become more productive and self reliant. He said this today at the high-level Roundtable discussions made up of African leaders including Dr. Ngozi Okonjo &#8211; Iweala, the Special Envoy of the African Union on Covid-19 and Tidjane Thiam who is also a Covid-19 Special Envoy responsible for mobilising international economic support for Africa.</p>



<p>During the session titled ‘Resilient World: An African call for a new world order’, Elumelu stated&nbsp;“I see this pandemic as an opportunity to reset Africa.’&nbsp;Whilst pointing out that&nbsp;Africa as a continent has all it takes to emerge into a strong digital economy, the UBA Group Chairman advocated a martial plan that will galvanise the entire continent and make Africa less dependent on the ‘circularity of debt’ from developed nations, which according to him, has been a major setback for decades.</p>



<p>He said, “I feel that as we engage the rest of the world in providing relief, we need to look for a more fundamental solution to Africa’s challenges. I have often argued for a martial plan overtime. We need to mobilise everyone. If we have a martial plan that mobilises resources to address particular issues, then we can mitigate against this constant begging for assistance.”</p>



<p>Explaining further, Elumelu pointedly said, “The truth is that we have resources to help mobilise people. As the founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, we committed to endow $100m to support young African entrepreneurs and we have been seeing the positive results this has yielded so far. It is evident that if we can fix access to electricity, ensure stability of the macro-economic environment, ensure prioritisation of the youth, empower our small and medium scale enterprises and fix youth migration, then we are in for a better and more resilient economy’.&nbsp;“There is the urgent need to prioritise our youths and empower our SMEs. The people who work hard need to be encouraged,” Elumelu noted passionately.</p>



<p>Tidjane Thiam&nbsp;who supported what Elumelu had proposed, said that rather than depend on international assistance at every point, there is the need for governments and institutions to invest in activities that will prioritise the youths and create a better enabling environment.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“I totally agree with Tony Elumelu. The major challenge is that we do not see enough entrepreneurs. Similar to what obtains in Asia and Europe, there is the need to promote a class of Entrepreneurs to drive the African economy. &nbsp;we need to groom more Tony Elumelus’ from Africa’ he said. Tidjane continued, ‘We know what needs to be done. We need government and multinational institutions to bring in capital so that there will be investment in health, infrastructure and the like. We do need to get rid of this debt cycle because constant rescheduling and begging for relief for debts is not good for us as a continent,” Thiam said.</p>



<p>Okonjo-Iweala, on her part, called for a system where youths and women will be empowered to create and produce more to boost the African economy.</p>



<p>Whilst calling on private and government parastatals to engage in meaningful partnerships that will help to galvanise job creation and entrepreneurship among youths in Africa, she said, “As Tony pointed out, we can see this pandemic as an opportunity for the continent. We have the African Free Trade Agreement, and we have to make it real.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“We have to specialise our countries to manufacture the things we need so we can trade with others. We need to produce good jobs for our young people. We need to empower our women and youths and put them at the centre. It is said that Africa would have the largest number of youths in the world by 2050, so we need to fix this,” she noted.</p>



<p>The roundtable which was organised by the New York Forum Institute, also had in attendance African Heads of States including President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger; President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya; President Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire; President Macky Sall of Senegal and President Julius Bio of Sierra Leone;</p>



<p>For more coverage on COVID-19 visit: <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/covid-19/">https://www.cnbcafrica.com/covid-19/</a></p>


COVID-19 is the perfect opportunity to ‘reset’ Africa - UBA Chairman Tony Elumelu

COVID-19 is the perfect opportunity to ‘reset’ Africa – UBA Chairman Tony Elumelu


<p>By Thandi Tobias</p>



<p>In its fight against the spread of COVID-19, our continent faces a massive challenge that requires unprecedented levels of unity and coordinated action. To prevail, we have to grasp without hesitation what the World Health Organization (WHO) has described as a ‘window of opportunity’ while it remains open for us to do so.</p>



<p>While our continent is home to many of the world’s fastest developing nations, it is also home to some of the most vulnerable. It is a known fact that the high prevalence of malnutrition, anaemia, malaria, HIV/AIDs, and tuberculosis among our people, puts our continent in an unfortunate position; one in which high death rates happen easily. That is why the country’s leadership had to act swiftly and decisively.</p>



<p>As Africans, it is essential that we focus on coordinated efforts in our shared battle against COVID-19.&nbsp; Africa spans both hemispheres and consists of 55 member states. Our combined efforts and determination can and will see us through this challenging period. The second and follow-up virtual meeting of the ‘AU Bureau of Heads of State and Government’, held in April 2020, ended with solid plans for a more unified African response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to presentations by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, Dr John Nkengasong, Director of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Bureau was also addressed by French President Emmanuel Macron.</p>



<p>All the heads of state in attendance expressed a shared apprehension over the unknown impact this virus stands to have on the health of citizens of Africa, as well as the unforeseeable economic impact it will have. The Heads of States and Governments discussed three broad themes and agreed to proceed to pursue several key solutions:</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <strong>Stronger inter-continental links for greater African solidarity</strong></h2>



<p>There was unanimous agreement on the urgent need to establish better humanitarian and trade corridors among countries; something they agreed would require cohesive efforts from all participants.&nbsp; All decisions would be in the best interest of the continent and its people.&nbsp; This will also enable Africa to speak with one voice on Africa’s priorities. African leaders also agreed on the need for an immediate lifting of all economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe and Sudan, as no African state would be left alone to fight against the spread of COVID-19. It was resolved that without the burden of sanctions, Zimbabwe and Sudan would be better positioned to save lives.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2<strong>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An aggressive medical response</strong></h2>



<p>Africa requires the production of medical supplies and equipment. The heads of states and governments called for international cooperation, support towards up-scaling local production of needed Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs), medical supplies such as masks, gowns, ventilators, and other support devices, all of which are greatly needed in the continent.</p>



<p>Furthermore, the AU commended rapid action initiatives such as the ones coordinated by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Jack Ma Foundation. Working with the World Food Programme and Africa CDC, they mobilised and distributed over one million diagnostic tests, six million masks, and 600,000 PPE items to all African Union member states in less than a week.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fundraising efforts</strong></h2>



<p>The AU is taking a multi-stakeholder approach towards raising needed financial and other forms of international support to strengthen the fight to flatten COVID-19 growth in Africa. The gathered Heads of States and Governments also noted the progress made in operationalising the African Union’s COVID-19 Response Fund, which was established on in March 2020. Members pledged the sum of US$12.5 million and an additional US$4.5million to the Africa CDC.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Africa’s Call</em></h2>



<p>To win the battle against COVID-19, protect its citizens and, by extension, citizens of the world, the AU calls for the support pledged by the G20, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to be delivered without further delay. It also calls for these institutions to review their disbursement policies to unlock higher levels of flexibility, speed, and Africa’s access to the IMF’s Special Drawing Rights (SDRs). In addition, the AU also supports the call for a comprehensive stimulus package for Africa and the immediate suspension of interest payments on Africa’s external public and private debt. Such measures would benefit all Africans, as greater fiscal space would be created to resource the battle against COVID-19.</p>



<p>In conclusion, allow me to remind you all, of our South African concept of Ubuntu – I am because you are – which also rings true in the hearts of all Africans and, I hope, inspires people around the world. It is in the spirit of this shared humanity that Africa’s call is made for the global support of our resilient, yet fragile continent.</p>



<p>*<em>Thandi Tobias is the Chairperson of Brand South Africa; the official marketing agency of South Africa with a mandate to build the country&#8217;s brand reputation and to improve its global competitiveness.</em></p>


International travel for South Africans is now allowed, this is how it will work

Op-Ed: Africa’s people-led approach to combat COVID-19 shows signs of progress and leadership

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<p>The fight against COVID-19 must include a climate change strategy that rebuilds stronger, inclusive economies geared for low carbon growth. That’s according to Former Nigerian Finance Minister and MD of the World Bank Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who was recently appointed to the WHO’s Covid19 special envoy. This follows her appointment to the African Union’s COVID-19 envoy earlier this month. Dr Okonjo Iweala joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


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