With Covid-19, the African Union can reclaim some of its power
African Union Commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat. The AU now needs to scale up its response and use its influence to demand that human rights are at the centre of all prevention, preparedness, containment and treatment efforts by member states. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
On April 7, President Donald Trump attacked the World Health Organisation (WHO), describing it as “very biased towards China” and threatening to cut funding for it. Many across the world quickly rallied behind the WHO and condemned Trump’s attacks. But it was Africa’s swift and vocal reaction that soon stood out.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, the chairperson of the African Union Commission, sent out a stern tweet in reaction. He said he was surprised by US government’s campaign against the leadership of the world health body and expressed the support of the African Union (AU) for Director General Tedros Ghebreyesus. The tweet triggered a chain of posts from African leaders, including Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, Namibia’s Hage Geingob, Nigeria’s Muhammadu Buhari and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa.
