The Rwandan President and current Chairman of the East African Community (EAC), Paul Kagame, qualified his share of responsibility for the current situation of covid-19 in the sub-region.
At a press conference held on Monday for the national and international press, the Rwandan Head of State and current chairman of the EAC, Paul Kagame qualified his remarks according to which he would have a responsibility in the current situation of covid-19.
“I am responsible but there are limits. ” he said. He showed that as president in office, he has no power to intervene in the internal affairs of another country.
He explained that several meetings have been held, including a meeting of health ministers to discuss coordination and action against the coronavirus. However, the summit of heads of state could not be held as planned.
“Three countries were not ready. ” explained President Kagame. “We were affected by the procedure for a meeting to be held rather than by the substance. ” Kagame added.
Currently the measures taken to protect against coronavirus in the region differ from country to country. Tanzania and Burundi still allow people to gather in churches, for example. As a result, Rwanda has in the last few days been registering new infections from drivers of cross-border lorries.
As of April 27, EAC has 953 cases of people already infected with covid-19, according to the organization’s website. Burundi 15 cases, Kenya 363, Rwanda 191, South Sudan 6, Tanzania 299, Uganda 79.
Gérard Rugambwa
