The AU chairperson says they will be tasked with ensuring the pledges of support from the international community translate into concrete action on the ground.
As chairperson of the African Union, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed four special envoys on Sunday to “mobilise international support for Africa’s efforts to address the economic challenges African countries will face as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic”.
Ramaphosa said: “In the light of the devastating socioeconomic and political impact of the pandemic on African countries these institutions need to support African economies that are facing serious economic challenges with a comprehensive stimulus package for Africa, including deferred debt and interest payments.
Okonjo-Iweala is an internationally respected economist and development expert and served two terms as minister of finance of Nigeria. She also served as managing director of the World Bank. Manuel was the longest-serving minister of finance in South Africa and formerly headed the country’s National Planning Commission. In 2018 he was appointed as an investment envoy by Ramaphosa to engage domestic and international investors as part of the country’s national investment drive.
“The African Union is immensely encouraged by the support that has been extended by the international community thus far. It is an affirmation that as nations of the world, we are all in this together. We must now focus on efforts to marshal every resource at our disposal to ensure that this pandemic is contained, and does not result in the collapse of already ailing economies and financial systems on the continent.
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