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🇨🇩 DR Congo /Health & Science

Ramaphosa pledges $13.5 million for Ebola fight in Congo, faces criticism on xenophobia

From Radio Okapi · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited Kinshasa, pledging $13.5 million to support Ebola response efforts in the DRC.
  • Discussions also addressed xenophobia and the rights of Congolese citizens in South Africa.
  • While Ramaphosa assured efforts to balance citizen demands with protecting foreigners, one newspaper criticized his response as evasive.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Kinshasa for a visit focused on urgent health and diplomatic issues, pledging $13.5 million to aid the Democratic Republic of Congo's fight against the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. The announcement came during a meeting with Congolese Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka, highlighting the critical need for international support in combating the epidemic.

The war was hindering the delivery of humanitarian aid and medical personnel.

— Cyril RamaphosaCommenting on the impact of conflict on aid delivery in affected areas.

Beyond the health crisis, the leaders tackled the sensitive issue of xenophobia and the security of the thousands of Congolese nationals residing in South Africa. President Félix Tshisekedi directly appealed to Ramaphosa for the dignified and legal treatment of Congolese migrants. The Congolese official news agency emphasized Tshisekedi's call for respect for fundamental rights.

The President calls for respect for fundamental rights.

— Agence Congolaise de Presse (ACP)Reporting on President Tshisekedi's appeal to Ramaphosa regarding Congolese migrants.

Ramaphosa assured his Congolese counterpart that his government is committed to upholding the constitution and strives to balance the demands of unemployed citizens with the duty to protect the dignity and safety of all foreigners, regardless of their documentation status. He noted that security forces maintained order during a recent national demonstration without foreign nationals being targeted.

guided by the Constitution, is striving to reconcile the demands of its unemployed citizens with the duty to protect the dignity and security of all foreigners, documented or not.

— Cyril RamaphosaStating his government's approach to managing immigration and citizen concerns.

However, the publication Le Potentiel adopted a critical stance, suggesting that Ramaphosa was evading the issue with vague promises of cooperation. The newspaper questioned the South African president's commitment, arguing that his verbal assurances lacked concrete guarantees for the safety of foreigners and did not adequately address the persistent problem of xenophobic violence.

Ramaphosa is hiding behind vague promises of cooperation.

— Le PotentielCriticizing the South African president's response to xenophobia concerns.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Radio Okapi in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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