PRETORIA — In a significant move to combat the ongoing health crisis in Central Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared that South Africa will elevate its Ebola response financial commitment to US$13.5 million.
Speaking on Tuesday, Ramaphosa—acting in his capacity as the African Union Champion for Pandemic Preparedness, Prevention and Response—addressed a High-Level Virtual Meeting of Heads of State, Government and Partners. The critical session was convened and chaired by Burundi’s President and African Union Chairperson, Evariste Ndayishimiye.
The primary objective of the virtual summit was to galvanize both continental and global solidarity to contain the Bundibugyo virus strain. This specific pathogen has triggered outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, necessitating enhanced preparedness across neighboring nations vulnerable to regional spread.
During his address, the South African leader urged fellow heads of state to sustain or boost their financial contributions. He specifically pressed nations with prior verbal commitments to translate those promises into tangible cash, medical countermeasures, or technical aid. Highlighting the complete absence of biotechnology in the current medical arsenal against the Bundibugyo strain, Ramaphosa drew parallels to the devastating West Africa Ebola epidemic. He warned that hesitation allows localized infections to metastasize into regional or global emergencies, stressing that immediate efforts must center on halting transmission at the epicenter.
The President also highlighted severe operational challenges, noting that the volatile security situation on the ground is actively undermining public health interventions. To mitigate this, he appealed to political figures to negotiate ceasefires and establish secure humanitarian corridors for the uninterrupted flow of essential goods and services. Furthermore, he advocated for robust cross-border cooperation, emphasizing the expansion of community awareness programs, contact tracing initiatives, and rapid diagnostic testing.
While acknowledging the vital work of organizations like CEPI and GAVI, Ramaphosa underscored a critical strategic vulnerability: Africa’s persistent reliance on foreign production systems and external markets during health crises. He framed the current outbreak as a catalyst for structural change, urging the continent to accelerate domestic manufacturing capabilities. Key recommendations included fortifying the African Medicines Agency and fully operationalizing the African Pooled Procurement Mechanism to ensure local manufacturers have predictable markets and nations retain reliable access to lifesaving medical supplies.
Addressing regional mobility, the President voiced strong alignment with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), which opposes the implementation of sweeping, unsubstantiated travel restrictions. He concluded his remarks by issuing a broad call to action, inviting African development banks, private sector entities, philanthropic organizations, and financial institutions to collaborate with governments. Finally, he appealed to the international community to maintain a steadfast partnership with Africa, rooted in mutual responsibility and solidarity.
