The EU and the African Union (AU) sealed, on Friday 18 February in Brussels, a "renovated partnership", with in particular the launch of a European investment strategy of 150 billion euros and increased aid to produce Covid vaccines in Africa.

The Europeans are also paving the way for an increased re-allocation in favor of Africans of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) special drawing rights intended for rich countries, but without firm commitment, according to the joint declaration adopted at the 6th summit of the two organizations .

"Our common vision (...) aims to consolidate a renewed partnership for solidarity, security, peace, sustainable economic development", pleaded the African and European leaders, gathered since Thursday to "reinvent" their relationship and "install new software", according to the formula of the Senegalese Macky Sall, president of the AU.

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At least 450 million doses of vaccines provided in the summer

The meeting was an opportunity for the Twenty-Seven to launch a global investment strategy endowed with at least 150 billion euros over seven years to "help projects wanted and carried by Africans", with priority to transport infrastructure, digital networks and energy.

All while guaranteeing "responsible, transparent, inclusive governance", according to the declaration.

At the same time, specific financial programs will support projects in health and education.

The Europeans, who promise to have provided a cumulative total of at least 450 million doses of Covid vaccines to Africans by the summer, have also pledged to help African countries produce RNA vaccines on their soil. messenger, a program unveiled Friday by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The EU will also mobilize 425 million euros to speed up vaccination campaigns by supporting the distribution of doses and the training of medical teams.

On the other hand, advocating a supervised transfer of technologies, EU leaders reiterated their opposition to the lifting of vaccine patents, bitterly demanded by their African counterparts, in particular South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The final declaration also calls for "voluntary and ambitious contributions" from rich countries, which can redistribute to Africans their special drawing rights (SDRs) - convertible securities created by the International Monetary Fund and allocated to its member states, which can spend without going into debt.

So far, the Europeans have collectively reallocated 13 billion dollars of their SDRs to Africa, out of 55 billion reallocated by the rich countries at the world level, a level well below the objective of 100 billion claimed by the AU.

At a time when coups and terrorism are fueling instability in Africa, and following the announcement by Paris and its allies of their withdrawal from Mali, the EU is also committed to helping peace missions and operations carried out by the African forces, by training them and strengthening their equipment and capabilities.

With AFP

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