Africa has developed a new voice in the past two years following the advent of the coronavirus pandemic, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday.
Writing in his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa said the pandemic experience bred a new life into the cause for African unity.
“Our experience of managing Covid-19 has emboldened the nations of Africa. It has shown us that resources and capabilities exist across our own continent to deal with emergencies of this magnitude,” Ramaphosa said.
He added: “Africa has found a new voice. It is bold and unapologetic in its expectations of our partners.”
He said the pandemic had shown that Africa was determined to resolve its own challenges.
Africa must uplift itself by making its own medicines to treat its people and save lives at the same time, he added.
“We must develop our own economies through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), promote investment and tourism within Africa, accelerate industrialisation, and drive green growth and low-carbon development as well,” Ramaphosa said.
Covid-19 has given “renewed momentum to the project of political and economic integration, which has been strengthened by the advent of the AfCFTA.”
NM/jn/APA