diplomacy&development

The emergence of variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19,  serve as a powerful reminder that viruses by their very nature mutate, and that the scientific response may need to adapt if they are to remain effective against them. In light of recent news stories regarding the preliminary data on minimal effectiveness of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine at preventing mild to moderate COVID-19 disease caused by the viral variant B.1.351, it is important to note that primary analysis of data from Phase III trials has so far shown – in the context of viral settings without this variant – that the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine offers protection against severe disease, hospitalisation and death. This means it is vitally important now to determine the vaccine’s effectiveness when it comes to preventing more severe illness caused by the B.1.351 variant. Additional studies will also allow us to confirm the optimal vaccination schedule and its impact on vaccine efficacy. CEPI has annou...

The 34th summit of the organization ended this Sunday, February 7, in a particular health context.  The 34th African Union summit ended on Sunday February 6, after two days of meetings. A somewhat particular summit since it was online, the Covid-19 pandemic requires. Félix Tshisekedi, the Congolese leader, holds the presidency of the AU for one year.  Moussa Faki was also re-elected president of the AU Commission, the executive body of the institution, for four years. And the heads of state returned to several important issues of the continent and the organization. This summit allowed the continuation of the implementation of the AU reform, Kagamé reform, and the passage to six commissioners instead of eight. Political affairs, and the peace and security department are now linked. What first of all to give hope for a less dispersed Commission. "The reorganization of the African Union Commission can provide the beginnings of a solution," said Seidick Abba, a journalist who fol...

H.E. Felix- Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), taking his new role as the Chairperson of the African Union for the year 2021 The Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) have elected H.E. Felix- Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as the new Chairperson of the African Union for the year 2021. The event took place today, Saturday 6 February 2021 during the ongoing Thirty-Fourth (34th) Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union, holding virtually under the theme: “Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want”. The President of the RDC is taking over the baton of command from H.E. Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, who has concluded today his term as the Chairperson of the African Union for the year 2020. Given the prevailing context of the COVID19 pandemic, the handing over ceremony between the incoming and outgoing Chair...

Sénatrice Dr. Rasha Kelej, PDG de la Fondation Merck, Africaine la Plus Influente (2019 et 2020) et Femme Africaine de l'Année 2020 La Fondation Merck célèbre la Journée Mondiale du Cancer avec Les Premières Dames d'Afrique et les Ministères de la Santé en renforçant les soins contre le cancer et en augmentant le nombre limité d'oncologues dans leurs pays. • La Fondation Merck écrire l'histoire en Afrique en formant les premiers oncologues africains et les équipes de prise en charge du cancer en Gambie, Sierra Leone, Burundi, Libéria, Guinée Conakry, République Centrafricaine, Tchad et Niger. • La Fondation Merck, en collaboration avec Les Premières Dames Africaines et les Ministères de la Santé, renforcent les capacités de soins contre le cancer en Afrique en offrant des programmes de bourses d'un, deux et trois ans, un master et un diplôme à 70 médecins africains de 24 pays pour qu'ils soient les premiers oncologues formés et premières équipes multidisciplinai...

Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, Most African Influential (2019 and 2020) and African Woman of the Year 2020 Merck Foundation has celebrated the World Cancer Day with The First Ladies of Africa and the Ministries of Health by strengthening cancer care and increasing the limited number of oncologists in their country.  • Merck Foundation writing history in Africa by training the first African oncologists and the intake teams in charge of cancer in Gambia, Sierra Leone, Burundi, Liberia, Guinea Conakry, Central African Republic, Chad and Niger.  • Merck Foundation, in collaboration with Les Premieres African Ladies and Ministries of Health, strengthen cancer care capacity in Africa by offering one, two and three year scholarship programs, a master's and a diploma to 70 African doctors of 24 countries to be the first oncologists trained and first multidisciplinary care teams cancer in their country.  Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germ...

  The verdict may be appealed by either party to the proceedings within 30 days after the notification of the Judgment. Today, 4 February 2021, Trial Chamber IX of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or “Court”) (ICC-cpi.int) found Dominic Ongwen guilty for a total of 61 comprising crimes against humanity and war crimes, committed in Northern Uganda between 1 July 2002 and 31 December 2005. The verdict may be appealed by either party to the proceedings within 30 days after the notification of the Judgment. ICC Trial Chamber IX, composed of Judge Bertram Schmitt, Presiding Judge, Judge Péter Kovács and Judge Raul Cano Pangalangan, analysed the evidence submitted and discussed before it at trial and found, beyond any reasonable doubt, that Mr Ongwen is guilty of the following crimes: attacks against the civilian population as such, murder, attempted murder, torture, enslavement, outrages upon personal dignity, pillaging, destruction of property and persecution; committed in the c...

A group of UN experts welcomed this 4 February 2021, the US decision to stop using privately run federal prisons and urged the Biden Administration to also end outsourcing of all detention centres, including those holding migrants and asylum seekers. “Ending the reliance on privately run prisons for federal prisoners is an encouraging step, but further action is needed,” said Jelena Aparac, Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on the use of mercenaries. “Given the magnitude of mass incarceration in the US, this decision will benefit only the very small percentage of federal prisoners who are held in private prisons and specifically excludes vulnerable people held in migrant and asylum centres who are at particular risk of serious human rights violations.” The US Department of Justice was ordered on 26 January not to renew its contracts with 12 privately operated federal criminal detention facilities. In 2019, there were about 116,000 prisoners held in privately operated facilities, re...