Ramaphosa mourns death of AU Covid-19 special envoy Abderrahmane Benkhalfa

Last year, during Ramaphosa’s 12-month term as chairman of the African Union, he appointed Benkhalfa as one of five special envoys to mobilise international financial and other support for the African continent’s efforts against the Covid-19 pandemic.

PRETORIA, April 28 (ANA) – President Cyril Ramaphosa has sent condolences over the death of financial expert and former Algerian minister of finance Abderrahmane Benkhalfa, whom he worked with closely when he was African Union chairperson.

Benkhalfa died of Covid-19 last week in a military hospital in the Algerian capital Algiers, at the age of 71.

“This is a very painful moment, as we bid farewell to an accomplished and globally respected African compatriot who has championed the cause of our continent in the global fight against Covid-19,” Ramaphosa said in a statement late on Tuesday.

Last year, during Ramaphosa’s 12-month term as chairman of the African Union, he appointed Benkhalfa as one of five special envoys to lobby for international financial and other support for the African continent’s effort against the Covid-19 pandemic.

The envoys were tasked with following up on pledges, mobilising further international support and campaigning for international participation in the AU’s Covid-19 economic interventions.

“It is tragic that Abderrahmane Benkhalfa’s life was claimed by the very disease he fought as a special envoy, and it is poignant that this loss has befallen Algeria and our continent during the Holy Month of Ramadan,” Ramaphosa said in his statement.

“This is a moment for all of us to intensify our continent’s efforts to save lives and to rebuild economies that have been gravely affected by this pandemic.”

The other four AU special envoys on Covid-19 are Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria, Dr Donald Kaberuka of Rwanda, Tidjane Thiam of Côte d’Ivoire and former South African finance minister Trevor Manuel.

– African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Stella Mapenzauswa