Pretoria (AFP)

Patents on anti-Covid vaccines "should in no way be a brake" on the immunization of populations, the South African and French presidents said in unison, during a visit by Emmanuel Macron on Friday in Pretoria , in the wake of his trip to Rwanda.

South Africa and India are leading a campaign to relinquish intellectual property rights to coronavirus vaccines, so that each country can produce doses.

"Patents should not be a brake in any way," said Emmanuel Macron during a joint press conference with his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa, finally agreeing to ask for a temporary lifting of rights, even if the priority remains the transfer of technology.

But "we are unable to put in place these exemptions" for Covid within the World Trade Organization (WTO), he admitted.

"I am pragmatic," he continued, adding that without any other solution, he would support the demand for the lifting of intellectual property rules on all anti-Covid vaccines during the crisis.

This proposal will be discussed in particular at the G7 summit to be held in June in Great Britain, and to which South Africa has been invited.

- "Sweet music" -

"This music is sweet to my ears," replied Cyril Ramaphosa.

Before going further: "This question should not be used as a barrier".

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Lagging behind the rest of the world, South Africa has vaccinated just 1% of its population of 59 million and its campaign to immunize the elderly only started last week.

Officially the most affected in Africa, the country which now faces an imminent third wave of the pandemic, officially has more than 1.6 million cases for more than 56,000 deaths.

"Only a few receive unlimited vaccines" while in Africa, only 2% of the population is now protected, asserted the South African president, again deploring a "vaccine apartheid".

The continent has more than 4.8 million cases, for nearly 130,000 deaths.

"The real challenge we face is the unavailability of vaccines. Well-endowed countries have bought them and are stocking them. We are now stuck," said Cyril Ramaphosa.

The two heads of state then went to the campus of the University of Pretoria where the French President and German Minister of Health, Jens Spahn, announced investment agreements to produce more vaccines in Africa.

"A vaccine for every African" is the goal set by the CEO of the South African laboratory Aspen, Stephen Saad, in front of the leaders.

Other industrial projects are being studied, particularly in Senegal.

- "Maritime operations" -

During their one-on-one meeting, the two heads of state also raised the security issue in northern Mozambique, which has been in the throes of jihadist attacks for more than three years.

France "is ready" to "take part in maritime operations" off Mozambique, if the states of the region so request, said Emmanuel Macron.

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Until now the Mozambican president, Filipe Nyusi, has been reluctant to any foreign aid, insisting on the sovereignty of the country, independent since 1975.

Groups known locally as "Al-Shabab" ("young people" in Arabic) have been sowing terror for more than three years in the poor and predominantly Muslim province of Cabo Delgado, near Tanzania.

Their attacks have been gaining momentum over the past year, in this strategic region rich in natural gas.

Total suspended a mega gas project that weighs more than $ 16 billion in April after a large-scale surprise attack on the port city of Palma.

Mr Macron's visit to South Africa, planned over a year ago, had to be postponed due to the pandemic.

Saturday morning, he will meet the French community and then visit the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg, before taking off for France.

© 2021 AFP