The Marrocan Royal Intiative to provide medical Aid to African countries is a "strong gesture" of african solidarity according to South African Experts

HM King Mohammed VI

HM King Mohammed VI's initiative to grant medical aid to assist brotherly African countries in their efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic represents "a strong gesture" of African solidarity, said , Monday, Ms. Liesl Louw-Vaudran, South African expert on continental issues. 

The Royal initiative should have a catalytic effect and create a new impetus of solidarity which Africa needs in these times of spread of the Coronavirus, said Louw-Vaudran, member of the influential Institute for Security Studies (MAP) ISS, based in Pretoria). It is the first time that an African country has taken such an initiative at the continental level, she noted, stressing that the Royal Initiative "consolidates Morocco in its role of voice of solidarity in Africa". It is also, she added, a message that advanced African countries can help Africa in its efforts to take control of its own destiny away from aid from other continents. 

Morocco has always been at the forefront of defending and promoting the interests of Africa, she said, stressing that the level of development reached by Morocco allows the Kingdom to project itself into a prominent continental role. The Royal initiative is also part of the continental policy of Morocco, in which the human dimension occupies a preponderant place, said the South African expert, recalling that Morocco has never had any ceases to highlight the centrality of the human element in any development effort both at national and continental level. 

He added that the new initiative must set an example for the development of similar approaches, in particular in the context of COVID-19. According to Ms. Louw-Vaudran, it is time for African countries to focus on the development of a sector as vital as that of health. Countries like Morocco, which has considerable expertise and confirmed know-how, must join efforts to achieve this objective. "Morocco is well positioned to contribute to this effort" she said, stressing the "inclusive" nature of the Royal initiative which concerns 15 African countries, including countries located in the English-speaking area. 

"This confirms the pan-African character" of the initiative, noted the expert. She, on the other hand, stressed that the Covid-19 pandemic has led to a paradigm shift at the global level, noting that the Royal initiative has come to show the way to follow for authentically Pan-African solidarity turned towards the future . 

HM King Mohammed VI had given His Very High Instructions for the delivery of medical aid to several brother African countries. This aid aims to provide preventive medical equipment in order to support the brother African countries in their efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The aid consists of nearly 8 million masks, 900,000 visors, 600,000 charlottes, 60,000 gowns, 30,000 liters of hydroalcoholic gel, as well as 75,000 boxes of chloroquine and 15,000 boxes of Azithromycin. 

This aid will benefit 15 African countries, belonging to all the sub-regions of the continent, namely: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Comoros, Congo, Eswatini, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Tanzania, Chad and Zambia. 

In the DRC, the Kingdom of Morocco's ambassador to the DRC, Rachid Agassim, handed over to the Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs Marie Tumba Nzeza, on Tuesday, a batch of medical equipment intended to combat COVID-19 in the DRC, Ndjili International Airport.

The Kingdom of Morocco's ambassador to the DRC, Rachid Agassim, handing over to the Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs Marie Tumba Nzeza to Marrocan aid

This solidarity action is part of the implementation of the Initiative launched by HM the King, on April 13, 2020, as a pragmatic and action-oriented approach, intended for brother African countries, allowing a sharing experiences and good practices and aiming to establish an operational framework in order to support their efforts in the various phases of pandemic management, notes the ministry.

Cassien Tribunal Aungane, Editor.