President William Ruto now says Africa will be able to produce 60 per cent of vaccines it uses by 2040.
In a statement on X moments after co-hosting a meeting on vaccine manufacturing in Africa with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Ruto said the continent was the last to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.
"But this situation will change for the better. AU has resolved that by 2040, 60 per cent of vaccines used in Africa will be produced locally. This is underpinned by our solid research capacity in vaccines. Kenya, for instance, participated in the Covid-19 vaccine trials," Ruto stated.
According to Ruto, the Covid-19 situation exposed the dire state of Africa's pharmaceutical manufacturing, including that of vaccines.
"The Covid-19 pandemic exposed the dire state of Africa's pharmaceutical manufacturing, including that of vaccines. We were the last continent to access Covid-19 vaccines, and suffered greatly from 'vaccine nationalism'," he added.
Among the leaders who attended th meeting on vaccine manufacturing in Africa with IVI in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia include Presidents Mohamed al-Menfi (Libya), Brahim Ghali (Sahrawi), Ahmed Hachani (Prime Minister, Tunisia), IVI Director-General Jerome Kim and Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya, among others.
Ruto succeeds Kagame
On Saturday, Ruto was appointed as the new African Union Champion for Institutional Reform, succeeding President Paul Kagame of Rwanda.
The announcement came during the ongoing Assembly of the African Union heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
"President William Ruto has this morning been designated the African Union Champion for Institutional Reform. He takes over from President Paul Kagame of Rwanda," the statement said in part.
President Ruto will be tasked with providing political leadership and vision to complete the Comprehensive Institutional Reform Initiative that began in 2016.
"The Assembly of the African Union heads of State and Government has bestowed on President Ruto the responsibility of providing political leadership and vision and completing the Comprehensive Institutional Reform Initiative that started in 2016," the statement added.
State House said this initiative aims to reform the structure, functioning, and focus of the African Union Commission, AU Organs, and Specialized Agencies to enhance their effectiveness and efficiency in managing the programs of the African Union.
