Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi called for continuing coordination with the international community to secure the chance for African states to obtain coronavirus vaccine doses in a fair and just way. The president delivered a speech via video conference in an African Union (AU) summit with the participation of French President Emmanuel Macron, Chair of the AU and Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, and African leaders. The meeting, also attended by Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki, aimed to discuss means to secure vaccine doses and back health care systems in Africa, Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement. Sisi called for securing the funding and logistical support required for African nations to tackle the pandemic's economic, social, and health repercussions, the spokesman said. "Mr. President indicated that holding this meeting confirms the availability of the political will to enhance joint African efforts to deal with the implications and consequences of the coronavirus," Rady added. The president shed light on the "unprecedented" challenges and threat posed by the novel virus on health and development systems at the regional and international levels, Rady noted. "Mr. President also affirmed that Egypt would spare no effort towards exploiting all its capabilities to support its African brothers in obtaining coronavirus vaccines, given Egyptian experiences in this regard," Rady added. El-Sisi highlighted the necessity to give priority to ensuring that the African continent receives a sufficient share of vaccines at a preferential price to cover the needs of African people. He also urged continuing coordination with international companies developing the coronavirus vaccines with the aim of enabling cooperation in vaccine production at the regional level. "This comes within the framework of working to enhance local production capabilities to empower nations to face any health emergency through transferring and localising technology in the health sector," the statement read. The president also affirmed the need to find a regional framework to obtain licenses for the production and distribution of vaccines, the spokesman added. The meeting urged enhancing solidarity and collaboration among African peoples and governments with the aim of controlling the spread of the coronavirus and containing its negative repercussions.
