Since its founding 50 years ago, the UAE has worked to establish enduring political ties, trade exchange and people-to-people connections throughout Africa. Now, with major investments in economic projects and human capital throughout Africa, the UAE is eager to work hand-in-hand in the spirit of mutual co-operation to boost the continent’s welfare and security through additional infrastructure, humanitarian and political initiatives.
Over the past year, much of our attention has been focused on the fight against Covid-19. The UAE has not hesitated in extending a hand of assistance to numerous African countries by providing medical and food aid to combat the pandemic. It has sent a total of 144.4 metric tons of medical aid to African countries through 28 flights, benefiting over 144,000 healthcare workers. It has also sent nearly eight metric tons of medical aid by sea.
Africa has thus far been spared the worst of the coronavirus pandemic, with both cases and deaths attributed to the virus far below the numbers seen elsewhere. For that, we can all be thankful, particularly given the limited resources available in Africa to fight pandemics. But we must not be complacent. Africa now faces twin challenges: procuring and distributing enough vaccines for a continent home to more than a billion people, and rebuilding economies in some cases shattered by border closures and lockdowns.
It is estimated Africa will need 1.5 billion vaccine doses to immunise 60 per cent of its population, costing between $7bn and $10bn. The WHO has committed to vaccinating at least 20 per cent of the continent by the end of the year. Yet there is considerable disparity between nations over vaccination progress. The UAE, the US, the UK and Israel are leading the world, with vaccination rates ranging from 25 per cent to nearly 100 per cent; yet so far, just a handful of African nations have been able to begin vaccination programs, including Morocco, Egypt, Seychelles and South Africa.
It is estimated Africa will need 1.5 billion vaccine doses to immunise 60 per cent of its population
The UAE is firmly committed to equitable access of the vaccine and supports Covax, an organisation born out of the G20 Leadership Summit last November, of which the UAE was a part. Covax is a framework for global collaboration in procuring and distributing Covid-19 vaccines, no matter the ability of a nation to pay for it. Yet while Covax is doing excellent work, there is still a real danger that developed western nations will gallop ahead in the race to inoculate their populations by relying on what the World Economic Forum has termed “vaccine nationalism”.
For the sake of not only Africa but the entire world, we cannot allow this to happen. Viruses do not respect borders, nationalities or governments. We live in a globalised, interconnected world, and we can only manage this virus and its impact by working together. We remain concerned that many in sub-Saharan Africa will not receive vaccines until 2023, and are committed to assisting the continent in addressing this issue.
Getting the people of Africa the same access to vaccines that much of the rest of the world enjoys is just half the battle, however. There is still the matter of the continent’s economic recovery. We must ensure that Africa does not suffer an economic version of “long Covid”. The danger is that this virus will further increase unemployment, poverty and inequality. The International Monetary Fund estimates that the economy of sub-Saharan Africa shrunk three per cent last year, while incomes fell 5.3 per cent, back to 2013 levels.
While diversified nations have fared better, those dependent on tourism have been hit hard. According to the World Bank, between 26 million and 40 million Africans could fall into extreme poverty amid the pandemic. Nearly half of African students lack access to remote learning, even as the region still lags behind in global enrolment and completion rates. Ghana’s Finance minister and chairman of the G24, Ken Ofori-Atta, has warned of a “lost decade of development” for Africa after the pandemic.
It is pleasing to see G20 member states place a moratorium on interest payments for 47 developing countries, most of them in Africa. The G20 has also said its members are ready to re-negotiate some of the debt, but as around 40 percent of it is private, not public, debt, there are limits to the extent of this relief.
A recent report from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs highlights the need for African countries to prioritise the diffusion of digital technologies, supported by the expansion of affordable and universal digital infrastructure. The UAE agrees, which is why we last year launched the Consortium for Africa to focus on digitisation and youth as part of an optimistic vision for Africa’s future. By leveraging public and private sector investment in Africa, we will devote significant resources to boost development throughout the continent. This support is, of course, in addition to a wide variety of aid programs, as Africa remains the UAE’s largest recipient of funding, receiving $16.4bn between 2015 and 2019.
Africa would benefit from strong policy actions and further support from the international community to avert a debt crisis and ensure sustained revival of growth. Once the immediate crisis is over, African countries must lay the groundwork for a strong and inclusive development path in the medium term, which entails the creation of decent jobs at a large scale. Representation of African voices in international fora such as the UN and the WHO is also essential, and if the UAE is successful in its bid to join the UN Security Council for the 2022-23 term, we will support African nations to garner wide support where necessary.
Comment from The National
The UAE has a rich history of cultural exchange with the African continent. This interconnectedness remains today, with large diasporas from African countries living and working in the UAE and contributing significantly to our own development. While we have faced challenges recently, I am confident we will both come out of this even stronger. The more we can also unite other nations beneath African skies, the faster this great continent will rise renewed from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sheikh Shakhbout Al Nahyan is a UAE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation
What is graphene?
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.
It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.
But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties.
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
'Morbius'
Director: Daniel Espinosa
Stars: Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona
Rating: 2/5
IF YOU GO
The flights: FlyDubai offers direct flights to Catania Airport from Dubai International Terminal 2 daily with return fares starting from Dh1,895.
The details: Access to the 2,900-metre elevation point at Mount Etna by cable car and 4x4 transport vehicle cost around €57.50 (Dh248) per adult. Entry into Teatro Greco costs €10 (Dh43). For more go to www.visitsicily.info
Where to stay: Hilton Giardini Naxos offers beachfront access and accessible to Taormina and Mount Etna. Rooms start from around €130 (Dh561) per night, including taxes.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
Scores
Wales 74-24 Tonga
England 35-15 Japan
Italy 7-26 Australia
The biog
Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus
Favourite travel destination: Ooty, a hill station in South India
Hobbies: Cooking. Biryani, pepper crab are her signature dishes
Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island
more from Janine di Giovanni
Mrs%20Chatterjee%20Vs%20Norway
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
The%20specs
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Zombieland: Double Tap
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Stars: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone
Four out of five stars
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Lecce v SPAL (6pm)
Bologna v Genoa (9pm)
Atlanta v Roma (11.45pm)
Sunday
Udinese v Hellas Verona (3.30pm)
Juventus v Brescia (6pm)
Sampdoria v Fiorentina (6pm)
Sassuolo v Parma (6pm)
Cagliari v Napoli (9pm)
Lazio v Inter Milan (11.45pm)
Monday
AC Milan v Torino (11.45pm)
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh234,000 - Dh329,000
On sale: now
Titan Sports Academy:
Programmes: Judo, wrestling, kick-boxing, muay thai, taekwondo and various summer camps
Location: Inside Abu Dhabi City Golf Club, Al Mushrif, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Telephone: 971 50 220 0326
