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African Union urges EU to accept African COVID-19 vaccine certificates

Speaking at the opening of a meeting of foreign affairs ministers of the European Union and the African Union in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, Monique Nsanzabaganwa, the vice-chairperson of the African Union Commission indicated such a policy could affect vaccination campaigns.
Nsanzabaganwa noted important steps were achieved by "team Europe" in providing vaccines to the African continent through the COVAX facility and through bilateral initiatives.
The official said: "To support these vaccination efforts the recognition by our European counterparts of vaccines and vaccination certificates issued by member states authorities in conformity with Africa CDC recommendations is pertinent."

She added: "This will allow our sister continents to be able to continue engaging productively particularly at the economic level."
Last month, the UK announced a policy of not accepting Covid-19 vaccine certificates from the continent which authorities say could increase vaccine hesitancy.
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England announced its initial list of countries from which it recognizes vaccines, with none of them in Africa.
Nsanzabaganwa said the continent looks to "sister continent and member states' support" in the ongoing appeal on waiver of intellectual property rights, related to COVID-19 vaccines and other technologies at the World Trade Organization.
She also emphasized on the importance of global supplies of vaccines to attain global immunity in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
She said: "This is critical to opening up across countries, global health security and global swift economic recovery. It would also be a distinct mark of global solidarity to fight a common enemy."
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About 4.5 percent of the African population is fully vaccinated, well below the average of about 55 percent to 66 percent levels in Europe.
Josep Borrell, the European Union's foreign policy chief said: "The COVID-19 pandemic has been a wake-up call. It has put the finger on what works and what doesn't work in today's interconnected and interdependent world. It has accelerated the need to make our partnership fit for purpose."
Discussions at the ministerial meeting revolve on the response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as building resilience, peace, security, migration and mobility and global governance among others, according to the agenda.
Ahead of the sixth EU-AU Summit, which is scheduled to take place in Brussels in early 2022, the ministers are expected to identify the most important common priorities, opportunities and challenges for the agenda.
Source: xinhua
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
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Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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