African Markers: Letter from the South African Presidency on the Negotiations for a Pandemic Agreement

Newsletter Edition #94 [Treaty Talks]

Hi,

We bring you a quick update in this edition, where we publish a letter from the South African Presidency on the negotiations towards a new Pandemic Agreement.

For the record, the priorities for African countries have been laid out in this letter.

On May 6th, 2024, we reported the following story: A Turning Point? The EU & the U.S. Draw Out Four African Countries to Bridge Positions on Pathogen Access & Benefit Sharing.

This development has been referred to in this letter.

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Best,

Priti

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Illustration Credit: Amy Clarke, Chembe Collaborative

I. The Files In Brief:

African Markers: Letter from the South African Presidency on the Negotiations for a Pandemic Agreement

Image Credit: Photo by Anni Roenkae, Pexels

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In a powerful, hard-hitting letter, Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, also the African Union Champion on Pandemic Prevention Preparedness & Response, has laid down the most important priorities for the Africa Group in the negotiations for a new Pandemic Agreement currently underway at WHO in Geneva.

Geneva Health Files has learned that the letter, dated May 20th, 2024, was sent to key institutions and stakeholders on the African continent.