African Union’s ebola solidarity mission in RDC

President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa arrived in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, this Thursday, July 2, for an official solidarity visit. His presence underscores his role as the African Union’s Champion for Pandemic Preparedness, Prevention, and Response (PPPR). This high-level mission comes as the RDC grapples with its 17th resurgence of the Ebola epidemic.

President Ramaphosa, accompanied by South African Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Thandi Moraka, is scheduled to meet with his Congolese counterpart, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi. The objective of their discussions is to affirm the collective support of the African Union for the government and people of the RDC as they confront the ongoing Ebola outbreak.

The visit is designed to enhance the coordinated continental response to this critical health emergency. This mission provides high-level political guidance, aiming to strengthen Africa’s unified strategy against Ebola, solidify regional cooperation and cross-border readiness, and galvanize political, technical, and financial commitments from African Union member states and their partners.

The African Union emphasizes that these concerted efforts are crucial not only for containing the current epidemic but also for sustainably bolstering African public health systems and improving the continent’s resilience against future health crises.

As the African Union Champion for Pandemic Preparedness, Prevention, and Response, President Ramaphosa is tasked with providing political leadership and overseeing the Ebola response, while simultaneously fostering solidarity with affected nations and frontline responders.

To date, African Union member states have pledged over $100 million to the African Epidemic Fund. Globally, financial commitments to support the fight against Ebola have surpassed $910 million. South Africa has notably contributed $13.5 million to these efforts.

On May 17, just two days after the official declaration of the epidemic in the RDC, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated the Ebola outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain and subsequently spreading to Uganda, as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

According to the WHO, the epidemic has expanded geographically, and its true scale may be underestimated. The situation is compounded by factors such as high population mobility, fragile healthcare systems, inadequate health infrastructure, challenges in accessing conflict-affected areas, and the lack of a specific vaccine or treatment for this particular virus strain.

Despite these significant challenges, RDC authorities maintain a reassuring stance, dismissing alarmist narratives. They highlight the extensive efforts undertaken in collaboration with national and international partners to contain the epidemic. Officials also draw upon the country’s considerable experience in managing health crises, noting that the RDC has successfully contained sixteen previous Ebola outbreaks through robust response operations.